If you know Sioux, you know her 'past coming to call' is not a good thing. Not good at all. Marcos is more than an ex-lover from back-in-the-day. For her, he represents every regret, every deceit, every stab of guilt in her soul, everything that was the creature, that was Samantha.

Andy realizes he and Johnathan had failed her miserably. Edgar recognizes her pain and is shook, as is Lita. Everybody hurts. Opies shmopies.

This tale I came to realize was about redemption. . .Sioux's. And redemption is not a onetime occurrence. Just when you think you're safe in the promised land. . . POW! And the search for redemption begins again.

Once again I write to 'Hallelujah'. R&R ya'll and let me know if you felt it as this yarn comes to a close. =:)

Marcos

Even when he believed she was dead, he hadn't felt this bad. To see her, to hold her, to smell her, to taste her. He shook himself and rose from the bench where he had sat smoking and brooding long after she had left. As he walked, he wondered how he was going to live knowing she was so close, but forever lost to him. Since he was very young, whenever he felt like he was flailing or drowning, there was only one lifeline that had always saved him from himself, he frowned ruefully. Time to go fishing.

Sioux

She had left Marcos on the bench and slowly walked back to where she had left her bike in deep dark thought. Marcos was a good man. She knew he had loved her, and the pain in his eyes had skewered and convicted her. To be confronted with a damaged soul from her destructive past had pained beyond what she could endure. Her spirit was weak and bowed as she felt the old waves of self-loathing gather and crest to the height of tall buildings.

Back when she had felt the heat of his love melting the glacier she had fashioned to entomb the dead heart and soul of a grieving girl, she had panicked and ran without so much as a note of goodbye. She had just ran. Ran back to where she belonged, to Louis-Phillip who reveled in her damaged soul and his creation; the cold, calculating, efficient monster that was Samantha Moreau. Monster! That was what she was. Stalking the earth crushing all who had the misfortune cross her path of scheming devastation.

She didn't deserve Johnathan's love. She knew that now more than ever. She didn't deserve anyone's love. You don't change a lifetime of deceit in a few months she reasoned. The longer she stayed the worst it would be when she ruined everything. And she would. She always had. Always would. She was an expert. Run! Just run! Her scared soul screamed and demanded. So deep and lost in her sadistic self-flagellation she couldn't hear the compassionate voice that called out to her.

Edgar

Dawne and Lita had retired to the ladies' room when he saw Sioux from the window and took in the posture and walk of dejection that he knew only too well, and quickly got to his feet. 'Hey Sioux!' He called as she reached her bike fumbling blindly for her keys. 'Sioux!'

She turnhed slowly. Her usually bright and dancing green eyes were so dark flat and unfocused they looked dead, and Edgar gasped. 'Sioux you alright?'

He slowly reached to place a hand on her shoulder, but she flinched and took a step back. 'Are you alright?' He backed off and repeated. She looked straight through him as if he wasn't there, keys dangling in a shaking hand. He wasn't about to let her get on that bike of hers in the state she was in, she'd kill herself for sure. He thought fast.

'Ya know I never got a good look at your Harley.' He stroked the seat. 'Niiice. Can I start her up for you?' And reached out for the keys. Sioux dumbly let him take the keys from her ice cold hand, and didn't appear to notice he put them in his pocket.

'Where's your phone sweetie?' He soothed as he cautiously moved closer and draped a comforting arm around her shoulder. Sioux's hands shook as she pulled it out of her jacket pocket.

'Well now, looks like someone has been blowing it up. Let's see who it is.' He said softly. Her head was bowed in his embrace and the veil of her hair shrouded her face as he walked her away from the bike.

When his phone finally sang 'When A Man Loves A Woman' Johnathan stopped his worried pacing.

'Sioux! Where are you?' He barked.

Edgar whispered. 'With me. At Hattie's. Bad. Real bad. Get here fast.' And hung up.

'Andy!' Johnathan yelled he ran to pull on his jacket.

Lita

Edgar spied Lita in the doorway of Hattie's and motioned for her. He pointed at Sioux under his arm, and shook his head. Hattie's was getting crowded and boisterous and he searched the street and spied a small coffee shop that was half empty.

'Hey Lita!' He fake jollied. 'Sioux here is freezing cold why don't you girls go over to. . .to that coffee shop across the street and get some. . .ah tea or something.'

He was making it up as he went, and hoped Lita got the jest of what was going on. Lita was quick on the up-take as she took one of Sioux's icy hands in hers and rubbed is briskly.

'Oh chica, your hand is freezing. Come on. Let's go warm up.' And pulled her gently away from Edgar, wrapped an arm around her and walked them over to the coffee shop.

Johnathan & Andy

Twenty minutes later Johnathan burst into Hattie's like a heat-seeking missile, with Andy right behind him searching for Sioux. Edgar saw him and made his way through the crowd.

'Where is she?' Johnathan demanded his eyes dark and dangerous.'

'Calm down dude.' Edgar replied as he led him back out the door. Andy looked around. 'Where's Lita?' Edgar gave them both an exasperated look. 'Outside!'

When they got through the door, Edgar lit up a cigarette took a deep drag and exhaled. 'Here's what I know. After you guys left, she asked to speak to Marcos, they left and a while later I see her heading to her bike. Thank God I saw her before she took off. She was in no condition to get on that thing.'

He gave Johnathan a confused look as he handed him Sioux's keys. 'It was really weird man. . .her eyes.' As a shiver ran down his spine. 'Anyway it was like she seen a ghost or then devil himself. She was white as sheet, shaking and cold as ice.'

'Uh oh' Andy remembered.

'She'd been with Marcos? He did that to her? I'll kill him.' Johnathan swore in a dead voice, his eyes blazing. 'Where the fuck is she!'

Edgar looked at Andy and nodded at a coffee shop across the street. 'She's in there with Lita.'

As Johnathan turned to rush off, Edgar jerked him by the arm and gave him a hard look. 'John, none of this is any of my business, but I gotta tell you, if you bust in there all heated she's gonna. . . I don't know. . .just don't do it dude.'

Johnathan held Edgar's eyes, exhaled and gave him a rough hug. 'Thanks Ed. Thanks for everything. I owe you.'

Johnathan & Andy

Edgar left them and Andy gave Johnathan a long look. 'You gonna be cool?'

Johnathan was pacing. 'What did he do to her? If it wasn't for Edgar she'd be smashed in pieces all over the highway right now!'

Andy reasoned in a calm even voice. 'But she's not is she? But it sounds like she's smashed up nonetheless. John, I saw her like this in Dutch.'

Johnathan stopped pacing and gaped at Andy. 'You what?'

Andy continued to hold his eyes steady as he remembered sitting across from the apparition that was Sioux in that bar in Dutch*.

'It was like she was a thin sheet of glass with a thousand cracks just waiting for the slightest touch to explode in a million pieces. Scared me dude.'

Johnathan looked over at the coffee shop his eyes now worried. 'Maybe you. . .'

Andy grabbed him by jacket and got up in his face. 'No you. You need to see this for yourself and deal with it.'

'I've seen her upset. . .crying. . .' Johnathan sputtered.

Andy narrowed his eyes. 'This ain't that. This is the flip side of the 'Wonder Woman' you keep bitchin' about. And don't go laying all this at Marcos' feet. You're the one who left her to deal with that shit. You just don't fuckin' get it do you? You shoulda. . .'

His eyes dark with anger widened and slowly turned clear blue with realization.

'Oh shit! We left her! We left her bro!' Andy released him and sat down heavily on curb his head in his hands.

Johnathan sat down next to him and patted him on the back. 'Anndy? You alright?'

Andy muttered through his hands. 'Dumb-ass stupid! What the fuck was I thinking?' Left her in that ugly scene by herself. Shit! She always comes off so strong and together, but she wasn't ready this. How could she be?' Shit! We both know she doesn't do 'surprises!' He kicked out a leg and cussed in frustration.

What are we gonna do Andy!' Johnathan muttered overwhelmed and a his wits end. Andy finally raise his head and gave Johnathan a look he had only seen a few times in his life when the chips were down. Waaay down. Andy rose to his feet and held out a hand and pulled Johnathan to his.

'We're gonna go in there and bring our girl out in one piece. And then we're never, EVER going to abandon her again. I don't care if it comes out she was The Whore of Babylon. I don't give a fuck. Do you? Really.'

Johnathan shook his head wearily. 'I don't give a fuck either bro. I just love her.'

Andy spoke his truth. 'So do John. . . so do I.'

Sioux, Johnathan & Andy

When they walked in they immediately saw Sioux head down huddled at a small table in a far corner. Lita saw them, whispered to Sioux, and came to them with a small encouraging smile.

'Hey'. She greeted Johnathan and stroked his arm. 'She hasn't said much. Just keeps muttering something about being a monster. I got some hot tea in her, but she wouldn't eat anything. Glad you're here mejo.'

Then she held Andy's eyes and gulped, her warm brown eyes welling. Andy held out his arms, hugged her tight, and whispered in her hair.

'Wait for me baby por favor.' She smiled up at him, ran a hand over his face, and left.

Johnathan and Andy were in the silent communication they had shared since childhood, as theyn walked over to Sioux. As he walked to her, Johnathan grabbed a chair and when they sat down Sioux was sandwiched between them. Johnathan gently lifted her up off the table wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Her body was tense and cold as she buried her face in his chest. Andy combed his fingers through her hair. Johnathan just held her, rubbing her back inside her jacket. As she breathed in the heat and smell of him and Andy's soft touch, the deadly ice she had been busy packing hard around her spirit began to melt.

Cautiously Johnathan stroked the sweaty strands of hair off her face, looked to Andy for reassurance which he gave with a nod, and lifted her chin slowly. His heart pained when her pale face, trembling lips and bruised dead eyes emerged.

'Oh no baby.' He whispered as his kissed her forehead. 'I'm so sorry. Don't. I love you so much. I'm just so stupid.'

Andy leaned in and ran a hand up the back of her head through her hair and breathed in her ear. 'We're both stupid. Shouldn't have left you. So sorry. I love you too. You know I do.'

Their combined warmth and love started to drop heavy chunks of ice from her spirit as she burrowed deeper into Johnathan. 'Dooon't. Don't love me. I'll. . .I'll destroy the both of you too.'

Johnathan stroked her face with a trembling hand as Andy massaged her vunerable neck. Johnathan assured her. 'You? You can't destroy us. We love you. What happened baby? Tell me.'

Hillstranded between the two she shuddered and squeezed her eyes shut. She whispered hoarsely as she finally broke down and wept. 'The p-p-ast. It c-c-came for me.'

Andy took her from Johnathan's arms into his. 'Now sit up and look at me.' He gentled as she shook her head.

'Come on look at me Sioux Nighthawk.' When she finally met his eyes, Andy smiled as he wiped the tears off her face.

'Now didn't we just go through this? Only it was me beating myself up, right? Right?' Sioux sniffled and nodded in agreement.

'You remember the story your told me about the lost warrior**? One of the sacred legends of your people.'

Sioux hiccupped. 'I made that up.'

Andy chuckled and smiled. 'I've known you made up your epic 'legends' since I was nine. But it was a really good story. Now I'm going to tell you one. One of the legends of the Alaskan people who live at the end of the road in Homer.'

Johnathan tucked her head under his chin as he telepathically cautioned, 'This had better be some epic bullshit Andy'.

As Andy told her the story of a brave and amazing girl who came to Alaska, found loyal warriors and become their Queen. How she was ripped away from them and wandered a cruel and empty world until the day her loyal warriors found her again. How her warriors swore a sacred vow to protect and serve her, to never leave her side, both in the earthly world and the next.

His soft voice lulled her and Sioux's world became his sapphire blue eyes. Johnathan listened closely and marveled that Andy was as good a Sioux whisperer as he was horse whisperer. Maybe even better.

Andy finished his tale and cupped her chin. 'I believed your legend, do you believe mine?'

Sioux, wrapped in Johnathan's arms and Andy's eyes, could only surrender. 'I do.'

Johnathan thanked Andy with his eyes, and roughly rocked Sioux from side to side. 'Come on baby. Let's go home.' He growled

'Home!' Sioux's freed spirit leapt with joy.

She was flying! The wind whipped her. Her arms and soul wrapped tight around Johnathan's strong body and spirit as he sped his wounded Warrior Queen on her gallant Harley stallion back to his stronghold. Where he and those who loved her had swore a sacred allegiance and would defend her to the death, would tend to her. Where she would regain her epic strength and rise again.

*The Girl Who Got Away -Ch 19 **In With The New - Ch 16

From: Running Against The Wind - Bob Seger

And the years rolled slowly past
And I found myself alone
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends
I found myself further and further from my home
And I guess I lost my way
There were oh so many roads
I was living to run and running to live
Never worried about paying or even how much I owed
Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time
Breaking all of the rules that would bend
I began to find myself searchin'
Searching for shelter again and again
Against the wind
A little something against the wind
I found myself seeking shelter against the wind

Well those drifters days are past me now
I've got so much more to think about
Deadlines and commitments
What to leave in, what to leave out

Against the wind
I'm still runnin' against the wind
Well I'm older now and still running
Against the wind