Author's note: This story is waaay too long so I had to delete some scenes that, while fun, don't exactly move the plot forward. They however do wonders for character development, so I thought I'd share. These are the deleted scenes from chapter 15.

Sam walked towards the river, trying to find a way to convince the rest of the group that he was serious. They didn't have to stay and try to get the ruby back. Laughter reached him and he felt some of the tension leaving him. At least someone could still laugh.

Christine, Alice and Angie came into view. They sat on a remote patch of grass on the bank of the river. Jimmy was with them too, untangling some rope and pulling at the pieces of what used to be a trap. Alice and Christine were laughing while Angie watched them, an absentminded smiled on her lips. Alice and Christine had their rucksacks there. Alice was pulling clothes out and showing them to Christine.

Sam walked to them, sat next to Christine and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi. Taking a break?" she asked.

Plotting, actually. "Yeah. What are you girls doing?"

"Us girls are dismantling the traps to salvage the material." Jimmy pulled some nails out of a wooden plank.

Sam smiled weakly. "I was talking to the actual girls."

"Really?" Jimmy felt around on the ground, trying to find some scattered instrument. His entire toolbox was strewn on the ground.

"I was just showing Christine and Angie all the useless stuff I've brought along with me." Alice pulled out the top of a bathing suit. "I thought I was actually going on vacation." She measured the minuscule bra. "Though I could still ware this and maybe soak up some sun. What do you think, Jimmy?"

"Yeah, nice," Jimmy mumbled, not looking at her but continuing his search through the dead vegetation.

Alice rolled her eyes. "You're taking a break, Sam. Why don't you tell him to take one too? The whole reason I'm even sitting here is to spend some time with him," she said to Christine as though sharing an important secret. "He's always up to something. I wouldn't see him at all if I didn't watch him work."

Christine shrugged. "I prefer to let Sam work. I know I can be quite a distraction. He'll come to me." She leaned her head on Sam's shoulder and looked up at him. "Won't you, babe?"

"Um, yes?" Sam said awkwardly. He suddenly felt trapped in Girly World. He looked to Jimmy for help, but his brother was busy throwing tools back in his toolbox.

"To each his own. I'm a bit more clingy." Alice returned to searching for clothes in her rucksack.

Jimmy looked up. "A bit?" he mouthed to Sam. He then mimed being lassoed in and tied up to something.

Angie giggled. "Whipped, huh Jimmy?"

Jimmy grinned. "Never! Hey, Alice, as long as you're rummaging in there, do you have any high-heels?"

Alice turned to him, thrilled. "So you like high-heels? I'll see what I can do for you."

"I have these." Christine searched inside her own rucksack and pulled out the stilettos she had worn from the airport.

"Wow, Christine, those are beautiful!" Alice took one and admired it. "I have something similar, but with less straps." She pulled out a high-heel sandal.

Jimmy came over and took both shoes, studying the four inch sharp heels. "Nope, stilettos won't do. Anything else?"

"Stilettos won't do?" Christine asked as if Jimmy had uttered the most offensive blasphemy.

"I have these as well." Alice pulled out a stocky pair of sandals with a wooden platform and thick heel. "They were more of a laugh. They're not very delicate, but very comfortable."

Jimmy picked it up and turned it over. "Perfect!"

"You like them?" Alice raised her eyebrows at Christine as though to imply that her boyfriend had some weird tastes. "Cool. So do you want me to put them on, or...?"

"Oh, you don't have to." Jimmy walked back to the remainder of the trap and started bashing a nail with the heel.

"Jimmy, what are you doing? You're ruining my shoes!" Alice yelled.

"Sorry, but I have to get this nail out of here. You know, this shoe is pretty useful." He continued hammering away. "Can I keep it?"

Sam had to bite the inside of his cheeks not to laugh. He looked to Angie who had both hands over her mouth. Her eyes were wide in an obvious attempt to keep quiet.

"That's it! Not spending time with me is one thing, but destroying my shoes? You went too far!" Alice stalked over to Jimmy and pulled him up. "You're coming with me. Now! And God forbid you start talking about rope or nails or anything else but me." She tugged Jimmy after her.

"Get the nail out and pack up my stuff, will you?" Jimmy called out before he and Alice were out of sight.

Sam and Angie started laughing. Christine giggled too as she went over to retrieve Alice's sandal. Sam and Angie got up and started gathering Jimmy's tools.

"Found the hammer," Angie said triumphantly. "Jimmy's really something, isn't he?"

"Yeah, definitely is. I do hope you won't be ruining my shoes, though." Christine pushed her shoulder against Sam's.

"Of course not. You know, Christine? I suddenly appreciate you a lot more. I know I haven't spent much time with you lately. So thanks for being so understanding."

Christine smiled at him, shrewdly. "You'd better appreciate it."

*

Kyle searched inside his rucksack, trying to find a book, but his hands only felt like strangling stuff. Kay had tried to get him to go to Jerry and apologize. She was right, but he was too annoyed to do it. He might end up beat Jerry into a pulp instead. Poor Kay had offered to do it herself. Kyle couldn't let her. She had nothing to do with this. He'd noticed that she and Jerry got along and he didn't want that relationship ruined.

Cursing Jerry under his breath, Kyle finally continued his search. This limbo didn't fool anyone. Kyle was sure Snitch Gravel would appear soon. He wished he could figure out what Snitch Gravel was playing at. He could have killed them a million times by now. It was as if he as trying hard to seem as if he wanted to do it. But when it came to the actual killing, he backed off. Why?

And Sam's idea of staying behind alone was so stupid, Kyle felt like screaming. There was no way in hell he was abandoning his little brother and Sam should know that already. He wouldn't even leave Jerry on his own. Ugh, not even Alice and she annoyed the shit out of him.

Alice's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're not going to leave me standing here! Jimmy!"

"Stop being so clingy. I'll be back. Just have some work to do," Jimmy replied.

Kyle stopped rummaging and waited for Jimmy to come in. His brother stepped inside, rolling his eyes. He froze as soon as he noticed Kyle on his knees with one arm fully inside the rucksack.

"What are you doing?" Jimmy asked warily.

"Looking for a book." Kyle shrugged and continued searching.

"You...are searching for a book?"

"Yeah, from college. I think we should take our training up another notch and I just wanted to check how long you stay knocked out if I use a specific method of— Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You go to the Police Academy, right?" Jimmy bit his lip.

"Yes, but why does that translate into 'Kyle can't read'?" He managed to find the book and pulled it out. "Besides, I do go to college, too."

Jimmy looked impressed. "Really? Studying what?"

"I.T. Don't look at me like that. You're making me feel stupid."

"Why didn't you just pick one or the other?"

"I tried to keep myself as busy as possible to avoid thinking about certain things." Kyle turned the pages of the diagram-filled book, searching for the chapter on knocking-out techniques. "It's time we all learned how to properly knock people out. It's going to be a while before we'll shoot at anyone, so we might as well take them down another way."

"I already know how to knock people out. Three methods. Pressure applied to different parts of the body."

"I know two methods." Kyle grinned. "One is punching you in the face. But that's not why you're here. What's up?"

The corners of Jimmy's mouth twitched. He opened his mouth to speak, but change his mind. He hesitated for another few seconds before speaking up. "I guess you are my older brother, so who else to ask. What's love like?"

Kyle shook his head quickly. "What?"

"How does it really feel like?"

Kyle raised his eyebrows. "Jimmy, you have a tattoo on your shoulder blade that proves you know the answer only too well."

"I did. But I don't anymore. I've been numb for so long that now...I don't know...Alice..." Jimmy looked at the floor, frowning.

"Look, if you're asking, it's obvious you don't love her. Jimmy, love is like...a kick to the head."

"A kick to the head," Jimmy said skeptically.

"Actually, not the head. A kick to every part of you. And it kicks so hard, it breaks your bones," Kyle explained.

"Hmm..." All amusement was gone from Jimmy as he stared at the canvas ceiling. "That's actually a pretty accurate description. Though I would've gone with cuts you to your soul."

Kyle smiled. "Tears your skin right off."

"We're a gory bunch, aren't we?" Jimmy laughed, but it didn't ring true. "Most people are better off not knowing."

"What? That love is hard? How many easy things actually mean anything?"

"Yup. That's probably why this feels so... wrong."

Kyle looked at Jimmy who was absently rubbing his right shoulder blade. "You can do so much better than Alice!"

"You don't like her, huh?" Jimmy smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"It's not that I don't like her..." Kyle hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I just don't see her as your type. You're too crazy and she's too clingy."

"I'm starting to think clingy is an understatement." Jimmy rolled his eyes. "Speaking of which, I should get out of here before she comes barging in after me. I'm still trying to stay on her good side." Jimmy winked and stepped out.