Paul sat in the cab staring out the window, wishing the driver would hurry up. It was times like these that Paul wished he had his own license, even though that was impossible. (I believe that most of you dedicated DAAS fans know why Paul can't get a licence, but for those inexperienced people among you who don't - Paul is colour blind)
Time was running out. Although she wasn't saying anything, the voice was still there. Paul could just feel it.
The voice heard his thoughts and was secretly pleased. She was also amazed at the dedication that her host showed towards the human named Wil. He thought and worried about him constantly. Ulyana thought it was sweet - as far as human emotions go.
She listened curiously to his thoughts as he tried to distract himself from thinking about Wil in trouble, by pondering about her. She was surprised at the agility of his mind. Few of her hosts had ever had been this quick. She was impressed, and made a mental note not to underestimate this one.
"Are you some sort of ghost?" the question popped out of nowhere. Ulyana was astounded. She had underestimated him already.
She considered. Sort of, she answered warily. Paul wondered if he was on fragile ground. Did she mind him asking?
No, not really, she replied. I'm just hard to describe, that's all.
Paul made a mental note of her answer, but let the matter drop. He realised suddenly that Ulyana wasn't aware of ALL his thoughts - just most of them.
She couldn't see any of his memories either, unless he thought of them. He could tell she was slightly taken aback with the workings of his mind, but he didn't really care. People had been underestimating him for his entire life. One more wasn't going to hurt.
Paul was beginning to get a headache from thinking about this problem, so he turned his attention back to worrying about Wil. Though Ulyana had reassured him that Wil was fine for now, Paul wouldn't be happy until Wil was safe in his arms.

I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. (In case you're wondering this in capitals because the voices are communicating directly). It was Nigel.
GOOD - I NEED TO TALK TO YOU TOO. Ulyana replied. Neither Paul nor Wil - Wil mainly because he was unconscious - were aware of the exchange between voices.
MEET ME IN HOST 04289 IN 5 MINUTES. Nigel said.

FLASH!
Ulyana blinked through someone else's eyes. Carefully surveying her surroundings, she was sad to see that her host was still in the mental hospital. She climbed up from the armchair that her host had been sitting in and headed out the door. She was crossing the hallway when a nurse tried to stop her.
"I'm sorry Maggie, but you're meant to be napping at the moment," the nurse said gently, as though she was talking to a 3 year old and not a middle aged woman. "I'm afraid you're going to have to go back into your room."
Ulyana sighed.
"Nope. Can't do that love," she said cheerily, knowing it would throw the nurse right off balance. She was right. The nurse blinked and starred at her as though she had grown horns. Ulyana patted her on the cheek and then open the door on the other side of the corridor, leaving the flabbergasted nurse behind her.
"I love doing that," she grinned to herself as she closed the door.
Letting her eyes adjust to the darkness she saw an elderly man perched on the edge of the hospital bed, drool running down his chin. The vacant look in his eyes told her that Nigel hadn't arrived yet.
"Eww�" Ulyana cried as the trail of drool dripped from the man's chin and onto his arm. Pulling an enormous amount of tissues form the tissue box nearby, Ulyana managed to wipe away the drool without getting any on herself.
"Yuck," she said in disgust as she dropped the soggy tissues in the bin.
"What's yuck?"
She turned around. The man had no stood up and was looking at her, his eyes focused and alert.
"You were drooling everywhere," she said with a grin. "I had to clean you up."
"Oh." Nigel grinned. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Ulyana replied with a smile. "Anyway, let's get down to business. First things first." She stepped over to Nigel and pressed their right hands together, palm to palm. The air around them rippled, and then was still.
"All done," Nigel said casually. The novelty of being able to freeze time just to have a conversation with someone had worn off long ago.
"Alright, do you want to go first or shall I?" Ulyana asked, already knowing what the answer would be.
"I'm worried. Wil isn't the brightest guy around, and he is currently unconscious behind a couch in the appartment with a gun, and a suicidal woman with a large knife." Nigel announced.
"Paul's on his way," Ulyana objected.
"But he's not going to get there in time! I don't even know if Wil will wake up in time to stop her. And if he does, what will he do?"
Ulyana sighed and frowned.
"Alright, fair enough. So what do you propose?" Nigel rubbed his face and sat down.
"I don't know. We can't interfere directly but�" he trailed off. Ulyana sat down beside him.
"Don't go there," she whispered. "You remember what happened last time." Nigel shuddered. That was not a pleasant memory.
"Ok, fine," he said. "So what do we do?"
Ulyana closed her eyes, mapping out the area that surrounded Jo's flat.
"Paul is about 5 minutes away. We just need to delay Jo from slicing herself - and Wil - to pieces, and to stop Wil from doing anything too stupid." She noticed Nigel looking at her, a smirk on his face.
"Oh come on!" she cried with a grin, knowing what he was thinking. "It's not THAT impossible!"
Nigel chuckled.
"You haven't been in Wil's mind."
"Well you haven't been in Paul's," she snapped back. "He's quick. Real quick. He'll be able to stop them both."
Nigel looked at her in surprise.
"I've never known you to have faith in a host so soon," he said.
Ulyana shrugged. "I was impressed."
Nigel frowned. "You reckon he's that good eh," he asked thoughtfully. Ulyana nodded. "Well, we'll just have to wait and see."
Ulyana scowled. "I have cleaning up other people's messes," she grumped. Nigel laughed.
"Then I'm afraid you're in the wrong line of work," he said with a chuckle. He got up and helped her to her feet.
"Be careful," Ulyana said, looking him straight in the eye. "You know what happens when your host gets killed and you're still in it."
Nigel smiled and hugged her tightly. "Don't worry," he whispered in her ear. "I'll try to keep him under control."
Ulyana returned the hug, resting her head on his shoulder. "You'd better," she replied, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.
"Let's do this."
Placing their left palms together this time, there was a bright flash as time resumed its course.

Wil slowly opened his eyes and peered around him. Where was he? And why did his head hurt?
You're behind a couch in Jo's flat and your head hurts cos you hit it. Hard. Nigel informed him.
Well that would make sense, Wil thought as he tried to sit up.
Ah, I wouldn't advise that, Nigel said warily. Wil was just about to ask what that meant when he heard sobbing. Suddenly he remembered why he had dove behind the couch in the first place.
You might have to do something, Nigel said quietly. She has a knife.
"Huh?" Wil blurted out loud without thinking. Instantly he regretted it.
"Who's there?" Jo demanded, her voice quivering slightly. What do I do? Wil asked Nigel frantically. You probably should show yourself before she decides to use the knife, Nigel advised.
This seemed like a pretty good idea to Wil, so he warily climbed out from behind the couch.
"It's just me," he told Jo, raising his hands up slowly. He could see her clearly now. She had tears smeared on her cheeks, and was waving a very large knife around. She blinked in surprise when she saw him.
"Wil?" she asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
Wil was just about to tell her he was here to stop her when Nigel cut him off. That probably wouldn't be a very good idea, he said. Try telling her that you came to pick some stuff up for Paul.
"I came over to pick up some of Paul's things," Wil said. At the sound of Paul's name Jo's face contorted with pain again, but she tried to hide it.
"So then what were you doing behind the couch?" she asked, hoping to distract him from the fact that she was a mess, physically and emotionally.
"I�um�I kind of panicked when you put the key in the lock," Wil said sheepishly. "I didn't think you would be very happy to see me."
Nigel's silence showed his approval with Wil's answer.
"Oh." Was all Jo said. Slowly she lowered the knife. Be careful here, Nigel warned Wil. She's unstable but she probably won't do anything with you here. All we have to do is wait for Paul to get here.
"Paul's coming?" Wil asked out loud. Jo stared at him. Don't say that out loud! Nigel cried, but it was too late. With a grief-stricken sob Jo turned and ran into her room and locked the door, knife in hand.
"JO!" Wil yelled, chasing after her and thumping on the door.
Nigel groaned.
"Jo! Open the door," Wil yelled, thumping heavily on the door.
"I can't face him," Jo wail was muffled through the heavy timber. What do I do? Wil asked Nigel, panicking slightly.
Oh NOW you decide to think your questions! Nigel cried, obviously pissed off.
"What do I do?" repeated Wil out loud, but more firmly.
Nigel grumbled a bit more then was silent.
"Well?"
I'm thinking! Nigel snapped. Alright, you're going to have stop her.
"There's kind of a door in the way," Wil pointed out. I know that! Nigel grumped. You'll just have to get it out of the way.
Wil starred at the door. Knock it down, Nigel clarified. Without thinking Wil did as he was told. Backing up about a metre, he charged at the door, shoulder down. THUMP! He bounced off the door and landed on the floor, slightly dazed.
Try again, Nigel said.
Scrambling to his feet, Wil did it again, only to be met with the same result. Put more shoulder into it, Nigel told him helpfully. Knowing this was going to leave a mark later, Wil climbed to his feet and did what he was told.

Paul shifted impatiently in his seat. How much do you know about the situation? He asked Ulyana.
I know only what Nigel tells me, she informed him.
Paul blinked. Who's Nigel?
Nigel is the voice in Wil's head.
Wil has a voice in his head too?
Yep.
Oh. For how long?
About 20 minutes longer than you.
Oh.
Paul tried to figure out how he felt about this. Don't dwell on it, Ulyana advised him. You two aren't the first- she stopped.
Aren't the first what? Paul asked, but she didn't answer. Hello?
FUCK! Ulyana suddenly swore loudly.
What? Paul asked, dreading the answer.
Suddenly he looked around without meaning to. What the�
I'm going to borrow you for a while, Ulyana informed him. Something's gone wrong.
Paul went cold, but because he was no longer controlling his body his face remained expressionless.
Wil�he isn't�
No, no, Ulyana put his fears to rest, but she sounded distracted. Using Paul's body, she sat up and leaned forward, peering through the front windscreen. They were almost there, but she sat back dejectedly in her seat.
We're not going to make it in time, she told Paul, releasing her control of him. Wil's got to do this one on his own.

This isn't getting us anywhere, Nigel finally said.
"Yes it is," Wil muttered, rubbing his aching shoulder. "It's going to get me in hospital." Nigel ignored his remark. Suddenly Wil lost control of his body, as Nigel took over.
What's happening? Wil panicked slightly.
"Don't worry," Nigel said out loud, working Wil's mouth. "I'm just going to borrow you til we get this sorted out."
Turning Wil around, Nigel walked back into the kitchen. He gazed around, then quickly began rummaging through the drawers.
What're we looking for? Wil asked curiously.
"A screwdriver," Nigel said. "Ah ha!" He pulled one out from the very bottom drawer, and ran back to Jo's room. Without hesitation he unscrewed the hinges off the door and yanked it out of the frame.
I would never have thought of that, Wil admitted.
Nigel ignored him, throwing the door aside and rushed into the bedroom, hoping it wasn't too late. Jo lay sprawled out on the bed, the knife slipping from her fingers.
"FUCK!" Nigel swore loudly, rushing to her side. Grabbing a handful of bed sheets, he quickly wrapped them around her bleeding wrists, applying as much pressure as possible. Jo moaned slightly, already slipping into unconsciousness.
Oh my god�Wil could only watch in shock as Nigel tried to help Jo.
"She's only just done it," Nigel said in relief. "We have to act fast - we don't have much time."
ULZ, WE NEED YOU HERE NOW! Nigel's voice thundered in Wil's mind, causing him to cringe. Had he been in control of his own body he was sure he would have fallen to his knees.
WE'RE STILL IN THE CAB! A female voice echoed in his mind, equally as powerful. WE'RE JUST PULLING UP OUTSIDE.
HOLD ONTO THAT CAB! Nigel cried. WE'RE COMING DOWN TO YOU.
Tying a knot around Jo's wrists with the sheets, and still trying to apply as much pressure as he could, Nigel scooped her up in his arms with ease and ran out of the appartment.

Paul literally cried out in pain as Nigel's voice exploded in his head. Ulyana quickly took over his body so as not to arouse suspicion with the cab driver, who was already giving them strange looks.
They pulled up outside the block of flats.
"That'll be $57.90 mate," the cab driver said, turning around.
"I have a friend coming down now," Ulyana said quickly. "He has an injured woman with him - as soon as they get in the cab, take us to the closest hospital!"
The cab driver starred at her for a minute but his expression changed as Wil/Nigel came tearing out of the building and leapt into the cab.
"Go, go, GO!" Nigel cried, holding Jo to close to him. The cab driver didn't need to be told again. Revving up the engine, he screamed out of the park and took off down the street.

Nigel sprawled Jo across the both of them, getting Ulyana to check her wrists. Keeping pressure applied at all time, she checked which direction the cuts had been made.
"Thank god she slashed herself the wrong way," she said, wrapping the still bleeding wrists up again. "Otherwise she wouldn't be with us still."
"The wrong way?" Nigel asked, trying to balance Jo's legs which were dangled over his lap.
Ulyana nodded.
"If you slash your wrists across, then you bleed a lot more and a lot faster than if you slash them vertically."
"I'm not even going to ask how you know that," Nigel said, as he turned and looked at her. Ulyana just grinned.
"That's probably a good idea."
You were a wicca weren't you? Paul's question caught her by surprise. What? She asked, trying to delay her answer.
When you were alive - you were a witch. It was no longer a question. Ulyana sighed. It was impossible to lie to a host, she could only hide the truth, and even then not when a direct question was asked.
Yes I was, she admitted. How did you know?
Fiona Horne's a good friend of mine. She's a practicing witch, and she's shown me a thing or two. She has scars on her wrists and when I asked her about them she said that slashing your wrists and drinking your own blood is a power-enhancer.
A very very dangerous one too, Ulyana said firmly. It's a stupid risk to take for a meager result.
That's what she said, Paul informed her.
They pulled up in front of the hospital. Thrusting money at the cab driver, while Nigel scrambled out the other side, Ulyana ran to inside.
"We need a doctor - NOW!" she yelled, projecting Paul's voice. Everyone around to stare, and Ulyana blushed slightly. She hadn't realised Paul's voice was *quite* that loud.
She didn't have time to dwell on it though, as Nigel came tearing up behind her, Jo in his arms. Instantly they were surrounded by doctors, who pulled Jo from his arms and placed her on a stretcher bed, wheeling her away quickly.
"This was not meant to happen," Ulyana whispered as she watched Jo be wheeled away.
"I know," Nigel reached out and took her hand, steering her over to the waiting room where they sat down for the long wait.

"I thought you were going to stop her?" Ulyana's tone wasn't accusing, merely curious. Nigel sighed and offered a meek smile.
"Wil said something out loud he shouldn't have."
"Oh?" Ulyana looked interested, but Wil was frantically telling Nigel to shut up, so he just shook his head. Can we have our bodies back now? Paul asked pointedly.
Oops! Sorry.
Paul blinked. Such a simple action, but it came as such a relief.
"Wow," he said. Nigel turned to look at him.
"She's let go?" it wasn't really a question. "Is she still in there, or has she left completely?"
Still here, Ulyana told Paul.
"She's still in here," Paul replied.
"Aright Ulz, let's leave these two for now - we can come back later. Meet you in host 1287," Nigel said, already beginning to release his control on Wil.
Wil breathed a sigh of relief as Nigel left, and turned to face Paul, who offered him a weak smile.
"Are you ok?" Wil asked, shifting closer and putting his arm around Paul's shoulders.
"Yeah," Paul nodded slowly. "I guess I'm still in shock, that's all. I mean�it's my fault�" He broke off as tears threatened to fall.
"It's alright Paul," Wil murmured, cuddling his lover to him. "You didn't know what was going to happen."
"But what if she doesn't make it Wil?" Paul pulled back to look up at his face. "How will I live with myself knowing what I've done?"
Wil grabbed Paul squarely by the shoulders and looked him right in the eye. "You have done nothing wrong Paul. You have nothing to blame yourself for."
Paul sighed and buried his face in Wil's chest, forcing his nagging doubts and fears aside.
"I'm so lucky to have you Wil Anderson," he said, his voice muffled by Wil's shirt. Wil chuckled, kissing Paul's hair.
"I love you too Mr McDermott."
They settled down to wait for any news on the well being of Jo.