Begin Again

Partners in Crime

Rowan yawned, glancing over at the passenger side, seeing Blake curled up with Duke wrapped around her arms. She looked so peaceful, almost tolerable seeing her like that. Smiling to himself, he looked straight up ahead.

In his mind, he was trying to piece everything together. Atkinson, Reynolds were obviously partners in this conspiracy, Wallace and Jaime would be below them and all of his henchmen under those two men. If Reynolds was after golds and car parts, why would he be molding the gold into car parts? Was he trying to move them in a much easier state to other countries?

"Makes no sense, everything else is pieced together but why does Reynolds want gold car parts? I don't get it Duke." The dog was the only one awake and was attentively hearing his new friend talk outloud to himself. "Do you get it? Cause I don't."

Duke wagged his tail excitedly at Rowan, tongue dangling out the side of his mouth. Not being able to resist the dog, Rowan scratched the dog's head.

"Good boy," Rowan whispered. "Good boy. Why didn't I ever get a dog? Probably Kent would kill me."

Blake smile softly, keeping her eyes closed.

"Rowan," Blake shook Rowan awake. "We made it to Vienna. I need to use the bathroom so wait here."

Rowan, barely awaking from his sleep, groggy glances at his surroundings barely kept him awake. It was nightfall already! He was already worn out and they weren't even done with their adventure. They might be young but not invincible. He was more worried that Blake wouldn't feel good enough to keep driving during the night.

Closing his eyes, he covered his eyes with his own arm, feeling Duke's snout rest on his shoulder. The car door opened as Blake sat in the driver's seat, shaking a small bag. Rowan peered under his arm, watching it carefully. It was a bag of Pringles, the extra hot kind.

"How did you know," Rowan asked, moving his seat up.

"You seemed like a Pringles guy. Here," she handed him a small coke bottle. "This too."

"I don't get how you possibly knew that. I'm from London, they din't exactly have these here," Rowan laughed. Glancing around the nearly empty gasoline station, Rowan squinted. "I think we should find a place to "hit the sack" as you would say it."

"Hit the sack? Really?"

"Oh just go with it."

"No, it's fine. I can keep driving, just something to munch on. Besides it's only five more hours. I've been driving for five now."

"Blake," he reminded her. His playful green eyes seemed more cheery than before.

"Fine. Fine. You win," she caved. They began talking about their home towns. Rowan explained the small population and very beautiful landscape and how the tourists were there year round. All Blake could tell him was about the annual car races in July, where the best off road racers come to compete there for the big prize. That was pretty much the most exciting thing that ever happened there anyways.

It didn't take long to find a hotel, where once they checked in, Blake ran for her room.

"I told you, thank goodness you listened," Rowan chuckled, closing his hotel room door. He couldn't sleep one bit despite the amount of weariness his body dragged. His mind ran with the facts he held, not knowing what other alternative or lead they possibly could have. Rowan walked to Blake's room to find the door cracked open. "Blake?"

Blake was asleep, still dressed. Despite the lack of noise, Duke raised his head to see Rowan walking in.

"Hey Blake," Rowan shook her softly. Moaning softly, she turned but didn't wake up. He grinned at her, pulling the covers over her shoulders. "Good night, Blake."