Miles pulled her up and into a hug, her need forcing him to at least surpress his rage enough to stop shaking. But he had no idea what to do about this. He was her brother... if they told anyone they'd be seperated. Would Alice be alright with that?

***
Riley shrugged. "We go into the city," she said, looking around the empty stage. "We get bigger audiences, more publicity, you know? The little school here uses it though. Every once in a while. I usually come to help out."

Alice was screaming into his shoulder. Not from crying, but just because she was so incredably disturbed and scared from what she had just read. She was shaking uncontrolably.

***

Mick smiled. "So what. You like kids?" he asked with a smile. "I like kids. See them all the time."

Miles held Alice tightly. "It's okay," he whispered, knowing it wasn't really, but wanting to comfort her somehow. "Shh..."

***
Riley shrugged. "They're high schoolers," she said. "Teenagers. Not really my kind of crowd. But I love this theatre. So I help out when I can."

Alice could barely breathe. She had no idea how to react now besides mass hysteria. What Mick had wrote. About Miles. About his family and about her.
"He's sick! He's sick he's sick he's sick he's sick!" she cried. "He's sick!" She couldn't say much else. She squirmed in Miles's grasp but clung onto him. "Where is he?! He's sick!" She screamed loudly. She didn't mind if Miles's parents heard.

***

Mick nodded. "Yeah I can understand that." he said wiping his hands on his pants. "So..." he walked to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead, before pulling her close and sort of dancing with her. "It's a big stage."

Miles held her tightly as Diane peeked around the corner questioningly. Miles just shook his head and his mother got the hint and vanished again. "Shh honey," he said quietly. "He... went for a walk with Riley."

***
Riley laughed softly. "Yeah it is," she said. "This is the first place I performed." She grinned, looking around at the auditorium. No matter how many times she saw it she still looked at it with a bit of awe.

Alice sobbed and shook her head. "We have to find him! We have to find him! He could hurt her!" she screamed. She squirmed out of Miles's grasp and picked up the journal. She picked up everything and stuffed it back in his bag. "Get him some help...I'm his sister and he's hurting everyone!" She picked up his bag. "I'm sorry Miles!"

***

Mick smiled and let his head fall to the side of hers. "It's beautiful..." he whispered. "Almost as much as you."

Miles pulled her into another hug as he stood up. "Don't apologize," he whispered. "It's not your fault. And Riley... can take care of herself. Until we get there. Wait one second? I'm going to just tell my mom we're leaving..." He let go of her and walked to the kitchen. Diane almost smothered him in hushed questions, but Miles quieted her with a 'I have to explain later. We'll be back.' Then he went back out to Alice and pulled her outside.

***
Riley laughed. "Thanks," she said lightly, but really she was concentrated on the theatre, not Mick.

Alice was still crying as she ran out the door. "Do-you-know....where-she-is?!" she asked between sobs.

***

Mick sensed this and paused to look around the theater. "I bet you miss a place like this?"

Miles nodded. "He asked about her favorite place, right?" he asked. "We'll be there in three minutes. Alice he's not going to do anything. She'll be fine. It's okay for now." He tried to be comforting as they ran down the street, but in all honesty he was worried about Riley too.

***
Riley nodded. "But like I said, I get to come back every once in a while."

Alice ran with him, Mick's bag over her shoulder, and tears streaming down her cheeks. As they nears the theater, her crying intensified.

***

Mick smiled and pulled her closer to him. "I hope I don't turn out like this theater." he said. He gave her a smooth long kiss.

Miles pulled at the door to the theatre. But it was locked... "Dammit!" He pounded on the door once. "Keep knocking for me Alice." He reached up and started searching for another key. There used to be one on the top of the door...

***
Riley smiled once the kiss broke. "You have two weeks to pursuade me against that."

Alice pounded on the door. "MICK! MICK!" She screamed.

Mick bent his brow and craned his neck. "You hear something?"

Riley nodded. "Let's go check the door," she suggested. "Maybe someone saw us come in." She pulled away from him and hopped off the stage.

Alice pounded on the door with both hands. "Mick!" she pulled back and helfted his bag.
Mick jumped off and ran past Riley.
"Alice?"

Riley hurried after him and opened the door. Miles grabbed her instantly and pulled her behind him, glaring at Mick the whole time. "What the...?" Riley asked, but she knew that look of Miles' too, and shut up pretty quickly.