<< Yeah, yeah, I know it's a one-shot book. As in, one part to a story and that's it. But after thinking on this for a couple weeks, I couldn't just leave the story with half (or 2/5, if you wanna get technical) of the band. So... enjoy, or pretend this really is a one shot and that this part doesn't exist. >>

2D cracked open his eyes. He'd fallen asleep there, with Murdoc, hand in hand. It was a lot like the old days, traveling around in some huge tour bus, or just in Murdoc's Winnebago when they were starting out. After a show, they'd all just sorta pass out, all together, limbs draped over each other. But things were so much different now...

He examined the homeless man who was still asleep next to him. He had thick, black wool gloves with the fingers cut off of them, and a jean vest, frayed along the back from sleeping on benches and against walls. Under it was a faded Black Sabbath tee and skinny black pants. They didn't cling to his legs, like it was before... they almost looked baggy. How long had it been since he'd eaten? One shoe was off, collecting change, and the other one was still on. Noodle's "business card" was still dangling from his fingers...

2D grabbed it, running his hands over the pen. Ask for Noodle. But was he ready for what he would find?

He nudged Murdoc, whispering his name. "Wake up, come on..." Murdoc opened his eyes, giving him a confused look. 2D took a deep breath, looked down at the card, and resolutely said "We have to find her. Noodle." Murdoc bit his lip and glanced away. "I know... but this is something I have to do." He got to his feet, holding out a hand. "I'm going to get her. Are you going to help me?"

Murdoc looked up, then nodded, slipping on his loose Converse and taking the blue-haired man's hand. He walked with him, pulling him along as if to say "I know where it is". 2D followed along, down the dirty streets, to the worst part of town: Essex's own version of Skid Row. A neon sign showed off the words "GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!" 2D sighed. Murdoc opened the blackened door and walked in. Even in the middle of the day, the place was full of people, and music blasted from speakers on the ceiling as lights flashed along platforms. Murdoc grabbed the business card from 2D, nodding to say "I've got this".

"Welcome! How can I help you fine gentlemen today?" A girl in a skimpy outfit was at a podium near the door, apparently taking private "orders". Murdoc slid the card across with a smirk tinged with hidden disgust. "Ooooooh... Noodle? She's not going anywhere today, but I'm sure she'd still take an order in her room! It's on back here, come on..." She sauntered back into a door, flaunting herself and flipping her hair as she did. She knocked on a door that said "Noodle" on it in red cursive, practically singing "Noodle! You have customers!"

"Send them away." The voice behind the door didn't sound anything like Noodle. It sounded curt and emotionless.

"Oh, come on... you know how our boss will be if you send them off... I'll come visit later tonight, but, please?"

"... let them in. But these are the last ones."

The girl opened the door. "I'm Amber, if you need anything." Murdoc shook his head and walked in.

Noodle was sitting in a room decorated in pink and frills. It didn't look like her at all. She was in a tiny pink dress, her hair grown out and curled, with a bow on top of it. She was looking at the ground, with her hands folded in her lap. "What do you want?" She didn't look up. "You know the prices. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty... however much you have, I'll... I'll do what you want."

"I want you to be our guitarist again, Noodle."

Noodle looked up suddenly, blushing. "S-Stuart?! Murdoc?! W-what are you doing here?!"

"We found you, and... Noodle, you're too good for a place like this..."

"So you think this place makes me dirty? That there are girls here that deserve living here, with clients that don't pay and managers that don't know the meaning of a 'no'? A man came in and held me at knifepoint and I didn't get a dime... should that have been some other girl?"

"N-no, that's not what I... it's just... you didn't get yourself into this, I'm sure, but some of these girls wanted this life..."

"You're just making it worse! We get abused, and... a-and drugged, and taken, and you think some of us chose that? What about Amber? She tries to be sweet, but her boyfriend practically sold her here years back, and she's trying to get money to get back on her feet. And I need money for..." She put her hand across her waist. "... other things. 'D, this is serious. We didn't want our lives to be this way. Never..."

"... I'm sorry, I keep messing up, I just... Noodle, I want you back." 2D reached out a hand. "We're going far, far away from this Skid Row, and you're never gonna have to come back again. Soon, we'll have money enough to get all these girls out... you just have to trust me."

"... remember back when I was a kid, and I made you pinky-promise?" Noodle held out her pinky. "You have to promise me that we'll do everything you said."

"I promise. Murdoc does too." Murdoc nodded, tears running down his cheeks. 2D hooked his pinky on Noodle's and pulled her skinny body up from the bed. "Now, let's get you out of here. We have a lot of catching up to do."