Ladies and dudes, this is my first A.T.O.M fic and I have yet to write. It shall be in chapters. Sooo...yeah that's it. Enjoy!

HOUSING PROBLEMS SOLVED-AGAIN

I studied my reflection in the mirror carefully. Somehow, I looked really tired. Not that it was strange; I haven't been able to sleep properly since Lee had bailed the rest of the team and me from the Aquatics Centre. I smiled inwardly, thanking my genes for the amazing fact that I didn't have puffy eyes.

"Lioness, how long are you going to stay in there?" came a stressed out voice from the other side of the bathroom door. As I opened the door, I found myself face to face with a red haired teen. "I've got a commercial shoot in half an hour!" Hawk exclaimed. I walked past him and made my way into the living room. King had already taken out his laptop and was sitting next to Garrett, probably discussing...well something that I can't pronounce. Axel was out on the balcony with his usual pensive look on his face, thinking about his dad (my guess). Given that Hawk was in the bathroom, talking to his reflection I suspect, that would leave Shark, who was, most likely, still asleep. Hm... 8:45 am... definitely asleep.

I never thought I would be able to find better friends. The only people that knew me as well as the guys do would be my parents. Or maybe not. They mean the world to me (both of them but know I'm talking about my friends), although I haven't told them about my sleeping problems. Not yet. I think we all have enough on our minds already. It wouldn't be worth it, I know how they'd react. Hawk would come up with some lame excuse, stage fright or whatever "actors" say to reassure themselves. Shark would tell me to chill. King would suggest some diet or something ("You're not eating properly") and Axel would give me one of his sceptic looks if I tried to reassure him that I'm fine. Like the time I fell off that skyscraper. I think that all that light from Lee's hard-light appearance has scrambled a couple of my nerves. Not that you'd notice. So, what they don't know, can't hurt them.

Sitting next to King, I took a peak at what he was doing. Not that I understood any of it. Some sequences, algorithms and so on and so forth. It was one of those things that only computer wizes like Garrett and King understand.

"Lioness, you look tired. Are you sure you slept well?" Garrett asked. I closed my eyes and thought. It was during moments like these that I thought of telling them. I managed to fall asleep somewhere around 3 am. I dreamt... a massacre. I dreamt my own helplessness. Fear. I feel like I just went through hell and back.

"I'm fine. I just need to wake up." I replied, giving Garrett a small smile.

"Well, you should at least eat. Breakfast is the most important part of the day." King declared.

"I'm not hungry."

I swear that if I had Hawk's confidence, I'd be at the peak of a successful acting career by now. Most people tend to believe anything I say. It comes in handy sometimes.

Nothing worth mentioning happened that morning. Shark got bored of being kept inside, so he took off to the pool. So, that afternoon, the place was practically empty except for Axel and me. The place, I forgot to mention, was at Lee industries. Now that Lee was, well, muerto and the MuTeam was gone, Garrett had the whole place to himself. Garrett never really used these rooms, so he let us in. It all goes in a circle. First Lee's place, then the Aquatics Centre, then the secret floor underneath the Aquatics Centre and finally, Lee's place again.

Anyway, it was a bit before three when I remembered that I had a capoera class. On my way out, I called back to Axel that I'm leaving. Only when I was on the other side of the door did I realise that he hadn't replied. Carefully, I opened the door so that he wouldn't notice. He was sitting on the couch intently looking at something that I'm guessing is the picture of his dad and Lee. He had changed a lot since he had met Kwon again. It was a bit scary. He hadn't talked much, he went out a lot alone and he always looked worried. I think that, besides the fact that he learned that his dad was alive, he was disturbed by Lee's murder, just like the rest of us. After the whole mutant affair none of us were really fond of Lee, but no one had wanted him killed in cold blood. If he had survived, he might have been able to help Axel in his search for his father.

Abandoning all pretences, I sat down next to him and took the picture for a closer look. I'd seen it a thousand times and I had no idea what I was expecting to find but I got Axel's attention, which was a start.

"You know, Axel, this is the 21st century," I said laying down the picture and looking up at him, "and there are advanced methods of tracking people down. I'm sure you'll find him." It sounded better in my head. But then again, I didn't know what to say. I smiled at him, hoping that he'd feel a little better.

"I don't know where to look anymore. Sometimes, I just get sick of this whole situation and I want to give up." he murmured. "I'm not sure how much of this I can take anymore."

"Axel, we're a team, and you're not giving up until all of us do!" I exclaimed. "Besides, you're dad wouldn't want you to give up. You've come this far, haven't you?" He stared at me for some time then let out a laugh.

"Pretty stubborn, aren't you, Li?"

I mock glared at him, folded my arms and turned my back to him. Just then, Garrett came into the room holding a cell phone.

"Where have you been? I keep getting your voice mail secretary. It's Eliza," he said handing the phone to me.

"Hello."

"Hola,prima!Que pasa?" Eliza asked.

"Nothing much. How about you? You're here, aren't you?"

"Como tu se?"

"Eliza, you only speak in Spanish when you're in Landmark City so most people can't understand you." I answered.

"Beuno. Pero,escucha me bien. Necesito hablar contigo. Solo." Eliza said.

"Now?"

"Ahora mismo.Por favor. Es urgent."

I bit my lip and looked back at Axel. I knew that I would regret it later, but I decided on meeting Eliza.

"Meet me in front of Lee Industries. I'll be down there in 5 minutes."

I rushed into my room to get dressed. With a sweatshirt still over my head, I ran out into the living room.

"Going so soon? I thought you had practice." Axel said

"Yeah, but Eliza said it was urgent and I have a feeling it is. See you two later," I called back.

AAAAND cut!! That's a wrap. Okay soo you've read it now...review,review,review!! Pleeeease. I could stand here begging all day but I've got a TMM fic to write and a certain two Uchiha's to drool over. LOVE YAZ ALL!!