-1DC: I do not own. But I do own Liza (-Lee-za-... just to clear that up.) and Quinn. mine mine mine!

-Thoughts-
"Speaking"

Nothing Much

By: egyptian lullaby

Summary: Quinn Bond is outspoken, anti-social, and… in a load of trouble. When someone appears in the artists apartment, she wakes up in a strange place at a bad time. What purpose could she possibly serve?

Chapter One: Little Ray Of Sunshine

It was cold.. the first day in September, ridiculous really. A woman about five-seven huddled closer in on herself, she fought to keep her jaw-length brunette hair out of the way of her cigarette while she took a long draw. Exhaling she took in her surroundings through her thin glasses. A pool hall was quiet this early in the morning al-bet, the passed out drunk next to the doors was a little amusing, while the cafe behind the wall she was leaning on was bustling with early morning coffee addicts. It was Saturday in her small Kentucky home, and the clouds hung low. Brown eyes followed random passer-bys with indifference; inhaling the last draw on her cigarette she flicked it out a little too aggressively, causing a few odd side glances from the couple walking past. Glaring at them she pulled her exposed right hand back in her sweater sleeve and continued on her way.

Say hello to Quinn Bond.

Quinn glared around her. Not in the most pleasant of moods. She had just gotten off work at seven am, third shift at the local grocery MartyWal, permanently. Ok, so her people skills were a little off. But that was why she had chosen a third shift job, you know? It just so happened that she didn't get along with the dead-beat foreign pervert co-worker groping her. She finally floored him after the second grope in one week; her death threat the first time obviously fell upon deaf-barely-understanding-English ears. Somehow MartyWal found that solid grounds for pitching confetti while gaily singing 'Bon Voyage!'

She needed another part-time job. She was twenty-one for Gods sake. It shouldn't be that hard! -Great. That barbaric werewolf… I swear to god if I ever see that hairy bastard again, I'll…I'll kill him.- She thought to herself as her foot steps fell harder on the cracked concrete beneath her chucks. She cut a hard right and took a short cut through the park, the wind bit cold through her jeans and she audibly growled, scaring a dog and its master out for their morning jaunt. She lived six blocks away in a nice two bedroom townhouse she'd managed to get a hold of with the successful auction of her latest piece. This nice little town house also happened to be located next to one of the only people she could tolerate in this town.

Quinn was a full time artist, and was quite well known. But even with a little clout, being an artist was not a constant source of income. With creativity comes creative blocks, and with creative blocks comes conventionally dying bank accounts. She ran a disgruntled hand through her hair and sat on a bench she had been eyeballing as she stormed up the path.
"What am I gunna do now?" She grumbled under her breath running her hand through her hair again. She brought said hand to her face, examining her knuckles.
"Heh, two busted knuckles, brilliant old girl. How are you supposed paint now?" She inhaled deeply. The crisp air filled her lungs with a fresh scent that gave her a vague feeling of deja vu. She reveled in it as it made her forget her current predicament.

Her eyes zoned off on the gloomy grey clouds of doom.

That was when she felt it: That shiver that ran from the tips of your hair to your toes.

Quinn slowly let her eyes drop from the sky, but the further they dropped, the darker it got until she was staring right in front of her a little ways into the park. Where the black had settled, there was a small light, not bright by any means, however all the same it was there.

She watched as a little boy peeked as if he were hiding behind a tree, only it was a corner of night. His smoky hazel eyes locked on her in complete surprise. If Quinn had ever seen such light and hope and raw fear as he set of with wave after wave of emotion when glanced behind him, she doubted she would have done anything different. He looked back to her as she stood straight as a stick from the bench. He now had tears in his eyes and reached out, his hands awkward as if he were having trouble moving at all. There was such a plea from his forever hazels it had her in long sprints to get there.

Before she could reach him she watched his hand drop to his sides eyes go blank and long slender fingers slid from the back of his head to the fore. The hand seemed to drip with purposeful grace from his head to his cheek. Quinn watched, stunned that, though the child wasn't showing his emotion any longer, his tears fell freely. The hand swept under his chin and yanked the child back into the dark.

Her senses finally transmitted what was happening to her brain and her automatic reflex reached for the limp hand that was quickly falling out of sight. Her fingers grazed his as he was pulled away, deeper into the dark that looked as if it were to swallow her whole too. She backed away suddenly when she felt the powers shift, cradling the hand that had touched the young boy to her chest. Her heart hammered hard in her chest as she watched the darkness eat itself, sucking in every last unnatural shadow. Disappearing back to whence it came.

Mist.

Finely drifting through the air, she raised confused eyes up to the clouds as little beads of water collected and hung lightly to her hair.

One more thing people didn't know about her… she could see things most people couldn't, or wouldn't. Most seem happy in their ignorance. Why deprive them of that. Besides. If the general pop saw half of what she had, nine out of ten would go mad. She didn't see often, but when she did… they made her look.

Puzzling over what had just happened… Quinn turned and headed home. Something wasn't right… and she'd be damned if she wasn't the one to figure it out. She now had her Scooby-snacks and was on the case!

An hour later opening the front door to her home, shutting it calmly behind her in a sort of daze. She tossed her keys onto the glass side table next to the stairs and forged her way into the kitchen. Her townhouse wasn't big and fancy, but it was cozy.
Quinn liked cozy.
She was also fond hot chocolate and naps.

It helped in it's own little way to chase away the chills she was getting from all sides.

Standing on her tip-toes she dug in an upper-cabinet and claimed her prize. Right as she was about to pull out a MissySwiss hot chocolate packet there was a knock on the door. She sighed in defeat, effectively snapped back to reality; her neighbor never missed a beat. Settling for grabbing a cookie instead as she dropped the box on the counter and walked lazily to the door. Opening it she glared and leaned on the frame with an outstretched arm.

"Liza, it's eight. Eight in the morning. Did yoo haff a nighmmare?" Quinn asked with the tone of 'Auntie Anita' oozing from her face and posture.

She stuffed half of the cookie in her face as she looked her, long black-haired twenty-three year old, neighbor over. She was petite, as shown by how tight her robe was tied. Her hair was a frizzy mess that almost matched her black-cat fuzzy house shoes. The most perfect picture of morning house wife. Liza lit herself a cigarette and ducked in under Quinns arm.

"Some one is cheerful this morning. How did my little ray of sunshine's night go?" Liza sauntered on into the kitchen as though it was her place to do so. Hearing a clang and the fridge open and close, Quinn rolled her eyes while making a face and mouthed: -Sure, let yourself in! Help your self to my food, and then stink up the place with your nasty Ultra-Lights. - As she glared and slowly headed back into the kitchen. Sighing through her nose, she caught Liza pouring the contents of an instant hot-chocolate packet into a second mug next to another empty packet and Quinn's decidedly favorite Snoopy mug.

Sighing a little more loudly, Quinn sat at her small kitchen table and lit herself another cigarette. She held up her busted hand and looked out the window. "Eh, I quit."

Liza turned the heat up on the stove to warm up the milk she had previously poured into a pot and turned to her friend. Not in the least surprised she lazily looked at the cut and bruised knuckles.
"Ungh, and that hand was finally healed too. Damnit..." Liza left the kitchen and then reappeared from the half bath that separated the two major rooms. She sat at the table and set to the task of cleaning and bandaging Quinn's hand. "Who, how many gropes, and will they live?" She asked. There was relative silence as Quinn examined Liza's handy work.

"You really should be a nurse." She leaned up and pulled the large ash tray off-center of the table in her favor and ashed her cigarette. Liza glared and propped a foot up on Quinn's leg leaning back onto the ancient chair that looked as if it were made out of white wire clothes hangers.

"Honestly. Is he going to live?" She leaned up a little to grab the ashtray, centering it again between them and ashing. Quinn looked up to Liza from her hand.

"I suppose he will. He groped me, and I slugged him. Then MartyWal slugged my wallet." Quinn shrugged. "I'll get another job. No big."

She took a long draw off her cigarette, feeling absolutely over this morning, as if the new bandaging had bandaged her bruised ego. She just shook it off as Liza removed her leg and got up to tend to the milk and mugs. After a minute, she came back with two steaming cups of hot-chocolate.

"You could get a part-time at the factory my husband works… at… and..." At the glare Liza received she cut herself off with her own mug of chocolaty goodness; averting her eyes innocently. "It was only an Idea." She informed with her nose in the air as she hastily took another sip of the scalding liquid, mouthing the word hot as she settled the mug back in her lap. Quinn took in her own fill from her Snoopy mug and snorted.

"As if. It was bad enough at MartyWal for a week. You think I would willingly walk into a building full of hot, sweaty, hairy guys with an obsession for big metal things that go boom? I think not. They'd be worse than Mr.What-is-death-threat-no-speaka-Engrish." She sniffed indignantly and warmed her hands on her mug, adjusting them when the porcelain got too hot. Liza watched Quinn with mild interest.

"It's not all men." She informed. Quinn glared again.

"No buff biker-chicks with penis envy for me. It's just not healthy." She watched as Liza adjusted herself and propped her leg back up in its original position and cleared her throat.

"Honey... you need a man." She smirked as Quinn choked on her hot-chocolate, glancing at her arm and using the inside of her wrist to wipe away a bit of projectile liquid. Quinn simultaneously set her mug down and put out her cigarette, then wiped her chin off with her sweater clad arm.

"Remind me why I speak to you again?" She got up and away from the knowing smirk, unceremoniously dumping Liza's leg off her lap. She walked over to her answering machine and saw that she had a missed message. Pushing the play button she leaned back against the counter with crossed arms waiting for it to play.

Liza locked eyes with her and turned her smirk into a sweet smile. "Because I keep you on your misanthropic toes?" The sound of the answering machine's voice filled the room.

'MESSAGE RECEIVED ON AUGUST THIRTY-FIRST AT TWELVE O' SEVEN AM...BEEEEP... Hey Quinnie, it's your sis. I know you're at work but I wanted to remind you that you have to visit mom soon. She's not doin' so well. She... she asked about you. Yesterday that is. So yeah... it wouldn't kill ya, you know that she- MESSAGE DELETED...BEEP THERE ARE NO MORE MESS-BEEP' Quinn stepped away from the machine and started cleaning up the counters and putting the box of hot-chocolate mix away. Liza watched her with an indifferent sniff then took the liberty of informing her:

"You're a liar."

Quinn didn't stop her self-motivated chore. "About what?"

Liza took a bigger drink from her mug seeing as it had cooled off a bit. "You said you went last Saturday." She watched Quinn's reflection in the window shrug.
"You know… we're going to go see her today." Liza decided, lazily looking back to her friend who had stopped her movement.
"I'll drive. Seeing as your piece of shit is on the fritz." She got up, setting her cup down and snuffing out her cig. "I'm off to get ready." She examined her nails as she just let her self out the back door that was conveniently located in the kitchen. "Be ready by nine thirty. Oh, and... Liars burn in hell." She added as she closed the door behind her.

How dare Liza use her own phrase against her.

Yes Liza was a dear friend… but sometimes... she was a little too...Liza.

Nine thirty rolled around way too fast for Quinn. But none-the-less she was ready and Liza was on time. Quinn's normal choice of clothing was a pair of jeans (condition varying) and a baggy tee. But seeing as it was cold outside, and the weather channel didn't give any hope of the sun actually working properly today, she threw on a white tank-top and a big blue sweater over it... and jeans. She sat in the car quietly. Liz glanced at her as she started the little two door white ZX2. "C'mon, she's your mother. At least respect her enough to go and see her when she's down." She backed out of the driveway and started towards the Anderson's Hospital. Quinn had her head against the window watching the scenery pass by in silent detestation.

Liza side-glanced and wrinkled her nose. "Speak damnit. Either speak, or light me a smoke and speak." Quinn shrugged and pulled two cigarettes from the same pack.

"Can't win for losing I guess...I'm ganking one for this by the way…" She informed as she lit one and passed it over, then lit her own. Her window rolled down a crack of its own accord and she exhaled in its direction.

"You know why. I know you do." Quinn stated vaguely, hitting her cig and then ashing it out the window. Liza sighed.
"You know.. this thing with your mom has to end at some point. It wasn't anyone's fault.. she had a moment of weakness.. and now she's trying to make up for it. Give her a shot." She suggested, ashing her own cigarette, then tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. Quinn never took her eyes off the scenery.

"She accused her own child for years. That's one hell of a long moment of weakness. How loving. She's just getting what's been coming to her for a while. Fine, I'll be civil. However, one miss-lip and-" She was cut off by Liza and a flailing hand from over on the drivers side, sending ashes flying in her direction. Quinn wrinkled her nose and proceeded to brush them off as Liza spoke, the rest of her rant gone from the tip of her tongue.

"Yes yes, I doubt she'd do such a thing seeing as she's the one wanting in your good graces." Quinn snorted.

"You don't know the woman I grew up with. You know damn well that I haven't told you the whole thing. It's best left in the past… along with her soon, hopefully."

In no time she pulled into the parking lot at the hospital for visitors. Liza did her famous crazy 'THAT'S MY SPOT BITCH!' and floored it, jerking it into the parking spot she deemed worthy of her precious car. "Out." She ordered with a smile as she watched an old man in a van glare at her as he passed. They abandoned the car and Quinn grinned.

"Honestly, I think you're the only one who can throw my day in eight different directions... and still have me end up with a smile on my face." She took a wonderfully sick satisfaction from Liza's rude behavior as she was walking away. Liza called back to her, "The day's not done yet!"

123Somewhere in another world321

"Has the message been sent?"

"Yes my Lord. They should be receiving it right about now."

"Excellent."

"Do you wish to see it?"

"... No... I don't have much time, have something else to take care of first."

123321

"You've got to be shitting me. You sure that that's what she said." A blond looked towards a tall brunette with an ultimate lemon face.

"If I had a reason to mislead you, I would like to know what it is." The brunette sat back calmly after he had revealed his message.

"God monk, just shut up and suck it up. You knew this would be happening soon. They just can't give us five minutes of peace. The Goddess OR the big nasties." A Red-head was now on the business end of a barrel and gave a nervous chuckle as he looked hopefully towards the brunette who studiously ignored his two friends.

"Can we eat before we go lookin' for this dude? I'm starved." A 'younger' member of the group begged while clutching at his stomach as if it were going to fall right out of his body. His beautiful gold eyes told the story of a painfully unending hunger.

"And somehow… we're not surprised." The blond clicked back the hammer on the gun and tucked it away in his robes.

"Yes, dinner sounds like a fine plan. We head out at first light. Better get to bed early tonight you guys, it's gunna be a looong day." The brunette drug out the last of the words as he stood and stretched; preparing for the walk to the diner.

"You got that vibe to huh?" The Red-head stated quietly as he found himself staring out a window before finally standing up with the others himself. Dinner, a nice hot, freshly cooked, home-made dinner would be a nice reprieve after living on scant provisions for the gods know how long. Who said 'holy men' had hearts?

123egyptian lullaby321

Quinn caught up and whistled as they entered through the large glass doors. They signed in then reached the elevator and pushed the up button. The doors opened moments later and the two entered without a fuss. Quinn was ever so pleased that there were no spooky things, old, smelly, sick, or in pain people accompanying them as well. It made for a much more pleasant ride. Liza reached out and pushed the button for the fifth floor. The doors closed in front of them and the watched the red electronic numbers at the top of the doors change with morbid fascination until they reached the forth floor. Quinn turned her back on the doors that they had entered from.

"I bet they open on this side." She smirked smugly. Liza looked at her... deciding to take the bait, she quickly held out her hand.

"You're on for five bucks?" Quinn shook just as the elevator stopped. The doors in front of Quinn opened... but then.. so did the ones in front of Liza.

"Damnit!" Quinn exclaimed. "A tie! I hate these elevators... now which side do we get off on?" She was suddenly yanked backwards by Liza, off her side mind you, away from the contraption. It was close. Quinn's foot almost got caught in the closing doors. Glaring as she straightened up, she shoved her fists in her pockets.
"You could have just said something." They made their way down the twisting hallways in silence. Quinn took in a deep breath as they reached room 5E18.

Quinn walked up ahead of Liza and knocked on the door. Not hearing anything she tried it again only this time calling out,
"Phyllis? It's Quinn." She heard a cough and a shuffle then a scruffy, "Come in dear." was heard beyond the thick wooden door. Quinn's hand hovered over the handle until Liza apparently got tired of waiting for her and opened the door for her with her hand on Quinns. The door swung open with amazing ease. Inside was a woman, mid sixties, attached to a breathing machine, a heart monitor and a few others. She sounded a little worse for wear.

"Hello Quinn. I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" The elderly woman seemed genuinely interested though her eyes were else where. Quinn stood at the end of the bed and attempted to smile. She played this game many times. It's called 'Tell and Die'. If mother wants everything to be happy and perfect, everything will be happy. And perfect. If you tried to tell her or anyone else otherwise... well...those were nights when balls and rebellion took over brains… and she almost got them knocked out of her head.

"Good. I hear you aren't doing..." A hiss from outside the door made her unwillingly change her train of thought. "A-as bad as they thought that you'd be doing by now. I'm...proud of you." -That wasn't so hard now was it?- She asked her self. But then she remembered... liars burn in hell. However apparently her mother bought it and smiled. "Are you still planning on opening up that shop? How is your art doing now?" She asked a little too sweetly. Wary Quinn answered truthfully.
"When I get the dough I'm gunna try to get it up and running. I have the perfect spot too." Quinn had a problem talking about her hearts desires with a woman who'd tried to rip it out of her chest once.

Her mother smiled, then she spotted something, eyes lighting up as she actually tried to focus. "Did you bring a friend dear?" Quinn looked over at Liza with a plea in her eye and a murder weapon in her hand.

Giggling Liza entered the room and cooed to the pathetic cyborg. "Hello Mrs. Bond!"
The elderly woman smiled an honestly sweet smile, her eyes focused on Quinn's friend. "My, don't you look lovely today? Where ever did you find a shirt in that color?" -Oh, boy is this hag pushing it.- Quinns teeth ground at the thought.

Liza just smiled, she may be some dumb but she's not plum dumb.
"Unfortunately Mrs. Bond.. we can only stay to give you this." She held out a bouquet of Lillie's to Quinn who in return gaped at Liza -Where the hell did she get those? Surely she can't pull foliage from her ass... Or can she?- Quinn quickly regained her skeptical senses she took the flowers over to her mother, glancing back at Liza with inquisitive eyes. Mrs. Bond looked up and smiled.

"Oh how sweet. I didn't know that you knew my fifth favorite flower was a Lilly."
Quinn glared hot. -Flowers are flowers you fatty. Just take 'em, sniff 'em, and die of an allergic reaction.-
"I guess if you can't stay... then be safe and take care." She smiled at Liza and...well just Liza. Quinns face grew as red as the liquid fire that was burning its way through her veins. Slowly forcing a hand to clench at her side.
Mrs. Bond waved a weak hand to once again... just Liza, she got a wave back in return from her and a snarl from Quinn who turned and left the room looking absolutely disgusted with the woman who birthed her. Liza exited the room quick on Quinn's heels and made their way to the elevator.
"Now that wasn't so hard now was it?" Questioned a cautiously lagging Liza.

"I don't wanna hear it or talk about it. Not even a fucking thanks for stopping by. Bitch."

Liza shrugged. "Fair enough I suppose. She was out of line for being the one who invited you in the first place."

Quinn walked the rest of the way to the car in silence. -I feel like I was just forced to eat one of those machines in there...- She thought lightly as she awaited the doors to be unlocked, once she heard the universal clicking she opened the door and buckled up. She kicked off her shoes and sat Indian style in the seat fiddling with the music on the way home.

They finally made it to their double driveway. As soon as the car turned off she slipped her shoes back on. -I am SO ready for that nap. - She tiredly got out and looked at her watch. "Eleven-THIRTY! OH, you OWE me! Good night you heinous bitch! And to think that I was planning on going job hunting!" -That's been effectively shot to death. -

Liza gave a heart warming middle finger "Yes, do sleep well."

For some reason... that didn't sound good to this Quinn Bond. Too much on her mind… and she knew it. If she slept at all it would be short, and fitful, and she'd probably awake more tired than she would if she'd just sustained herself on coffee and cigarettes surrounded by paints and inspiration. Hazel eyes floated through her mind as she tiredly made her way to the farthest townhouse in the set of five. She opened the door only to see nothing but darkness. Her eye twitched. -I hate it when your eyes have to adjust from the light outside.- Her mind grumbled even as she felt a voodoo vibe sweep past her in a phantom breeze. She entered cautiously even though her skin was itching uncomfortably... In a sense it was sort of begging for her to run. She passed through the thresh hold, only to have the blackness fade into a light grey. -I wonder how Liza pulled this off. Ah, she can also pull hallucinations out her ass along with flowers. Freak.- Even if this was a trick of Liza's… there was bound to be something physically painful involved somewhere along the line.

A thick mist came up to her hips, she squinted but she couldn't see anything. -Wait! What was that??- She moved closer to the general direction of the stairs. Only to find her glass table floating in the air. "Oookaay...How'd you do that one?" -This woman brings me constant new inspiration…- Her inner self drawled.

"Quinn..."
-Alright... that definitely wasn't Liza...- Feeling a bit of fear creep down her neck as the little hairs stood on end, she stopped all movement. Instinctively ducking as her eyes darted around the room. -My furniture is floating and there's a guy in here. Oh shit. - She dropped to her knees and felt around for her keys, something hit her shoulder and she squeaked in surprise. Her hand automatically flew out to hit it. She heard a jingle and felt a sting as her bad knuckles made contact with... -Shit... my keys. - She followed the jingle blindly and finally grabbed them. She positioned three keys between her fingers, business end out and fisted her hand around the rest of the ring.

"Quinn..."

"Who are you? I don't have any money!" She didn't sound as confident as she wanted to but it would have to do. Suddenly the vision of some short kid with stringy bangs and the rest of his hair up in a bun appeared in front of her. He seemed to be fading in and out like a bad TV signal but she could distinguish robes... and something on his forehead. She readied herself for fight or flight. The kid opened his eyes. His blank eyes.

"Quinn… you ..ve to...th me."

-Is that static? What the fuck?-

"Alright kid. I've had just about enough of you creepy critters for one day.. So the sooner you just leave and let me blame this on a friend and execute her punishment swiftly… the sooner we can all go back to leaving each other alone again. I'll even put extra effort into finding out about that one kid from the park! I swear!" She stayed readied... but something gave her the impression that he wasn't here to plunder, pillage, or rape. Hesitantly... She took a step back... deciding that, with his lack of response, flight was looking like a good plan. Anything to get away from this stringy-static ghostly figure in the middle of her living room. -Freaky kid with fog machine bad jujus!-

"..inn..you have...come wi..."

-Weird... way to fucking weird. and there's no way he said what I think he said.- She turned on her heel to turn and run for her life when the kid unexpectedly held out his hand. She looked at it... then turned. "Fuck this!" -Ok team! HUT HUT!- She got two good leaps in before her body froze. She couldn't move. The kid appeared right next to her, almost cheek to cheek, and in surround sound whisper:

"Quinn.. you have to come with me. You have no choice. They need you to..e.mber..." He started to go static-rific at the end and she didn't quite catch it.

With eyes as big as saucers... she suddenly felt sleepy.. and her body went limp. Before she crashed to the ground the kid caught her. She looked up with what little strength was left. She saw a placid face, a placid.. flawless face. "You... asshole.." And she was down for the count.

la la la
Reviews are appreciated

Any questions… just drop me a line.

The name one last time… egyptian lullaby. Hopefully this fic. was good enough for you to want to remember my name.

Heh.

Ps I hope my revisions on this chapter made it a little easier on the flow and understanding. You never really know how horribly messed up something is until you read it months later, ne?