A/N: I decided to do a series of short one-shots of how everyone in the group thinks of Rayne, started with the one who met her first, so Eric's chapter will be pushed back a bit. Writing backstories just helps me get into the Gone Native groove, and I really want my muse to find me so I can update that story soon. Please review!

It was over. I had failed them. I had failed her. Failed.

I knew what I had to do next. I knew it had to be soon. More of them were coming. But I couldn't help think back, to the beginning of this mess. I needed a reminder. A reason. A jolt of courage.

I always considered her my adopted granddaughter, and her parents, Doug and Christie, my adopted children. I had been married to the army, but here, now that I'd settled down, my neighbors filled the gap nicely.

Doug talked shop and Christie was an amazing cook and Rayne, well, Rayne was just a little girl. Sometimes she was the sweetest thing on the face of the planet and sometimes she annoyed me so much that I was tempted to discipline her as her parents had given me permission to.

Sometimes when they came over for dinner, I made spinach just to see how she'd react.

Then Dough and Christie came home from the town meeting totally changed, and it was in Christie's eyes. I could tell that she wanted me to save Rayne. She whispered a choked "Rain, Rain, Go Away" -lyrics I recognized with stomach-dropping dread-and then distracted Doug as I escaped the house. I usually planned things. Made lists. Checked and re-checked. But this was different. This was important. This was for Rayne.

So I dropped everything, got in my car, which thank heavens had a full tank of gas, and drove to the park. I grabbed her out of the swimming pool, right in the middle of lessons, and I drove to a place that I'd never talked about with Doug and Christie, to a place far away.

And Rayne cried, and it broke my heart, but I sang to her, and she calmed, and it's been just us ever since.

I loved Doug and Christie like my own children, and I love Rayne like my own granddaughter, and I will do anything. Anything to save her. To keep her safe.

Even this.

I was in the alley a few yards behind the building, sheltered by a dumpster. They knew I'd been hit. I had thought that the element of surprise would give me the edge I needed to capture the Seekers and find Rayne, but I had been the one surprised. Seeing no sight of Rayne, I had leveled my gun and demanded answers from the two Seekers inside. But more Seekers had arrived. I managed to silence the two I already had my gun on, but I had no chance against the dozen who walked in behind me. I heard Maria tell me to run, and amidst the barrage of bullets, I miraculously escaped into the darkness through the back door. The alley provided many options for cover, but no escape. They would find me. Soon. I was so close I could hear them organizing the search.

With one hand compressing my abdomen, I reached into my pocket to pull out the phone I'd managed to grab off the Seeker Station counter. It was dark, but I put every ounce of energy I had left into dialing the number I knew by heart.

The noise would blow my cover for sure, but I couldn't help that.

Surprisingly, Burns answered, and I uttered what I knew were my last words.

"They got us. Run for your lives."

I didn't hang up as I pulled my gun closer—it would take too much energy. Instead, I maneuvered the gun in my lap until it was pointed at my head.

I hoped she knew, that one day someone would tell her, just how much she was loved.

I dislodged my last bullet while clinging to the image of her dancing blue eyes.