Author's note: Here (finally) is the sidefic to Learning to Breathe. While Andi's away, the rest of the team deals with their own problems, including insane relatives, crazy duels, and an occasional explosion (or three). In case you've forgotten, Kris, Bryan, and Mitch are mine. Oh, and so is Kim (kristen's sister). anyone else obviously isn't mine.

Disclaimer:Come on now, try and understand The way I feel under your command [1

Coming into Their Own

1. Invitations

"Why did she have to leave?" Mitch grumbled. The team, minus Andi, had gathered in the cafeteria for lunch. Andi was on a flght to Manhattan. "It's never any fun without her."

"She can't control her shifting, guys." Kristen stated. "She probably didn't want to be a bother."

"But she is no bother." Neal whined.

"We know that, but it's her choice." Bryan replied. "I think she likes to spend time with her mom anyway."

"Wish I had a mom to spend time with." Kris grumbled.

"What about the family that…" Regan started.

"They're actually my aunt and uncle." Kris explained. "My real mom… isn't well."

"Is she sick or something?" Regan asked.

"I don't know." Kristen said. "My sister and I were taken away when I was two. Kim won't talk about it."

"Have you asked your foster family?" Mitch asked.

"They seem afraid to tell me. I mean, they only broke the whole 'you two are adopted' thing to me when I was ten, and that triggered my powers." She sighed. "Of course, Kim as some very similar powers, but even after they took me home again they wouldn't tell me about my parents."

"Maybe they're trying to protect you?" Neal offered.

"I just don't know why, though." The teenaged vamp sighed. "Guess I'll never know."

"Cheer up." Bryan smiled. "Maybe things'll start lookin' up for ya?"

"Maybe." Kristen sighed.

XXXXXX

North of Dallas, Texas, there lay a large beige building. This building, the Dallas County mental health facility, housed some of the strangest and most dangerous people in the state. And, in a locked door down the end of the hall on the third floor, a woman begged a security guard to send a message for her.

"Please!" She pleaded, her pale blue eyes watering. "Just give this to my sister! I want her to visit me!"

"I don't know if I'm authorized to do that, Ma'me." The lanky guard sighed. She pouted. "Tell you what, I'll give it to Stacie at the front desk. If she thinks it can go out, she'll send it out."

"Thank you." The woman smiled a devious fanged smile, but nonetheless handed over the letter.

"No problem, Ma'me" The man nodded, carrying the letter up the hall and away from her. On the way, he met up with one of the doctors. "What is with that woman?"

"Her name is Cameron Hastings." The blond physician shook her head. "Been here for twelve years."

"She has fangs." The guard whispered. The doctor merely sighed.

"She believes she's an actual vampire. Drinks blood and everything. Seems to have been brought on when her—ah—lover left her. She has two daughters. Always asking for them, too."

"She wanted me to send off this letter." The man held up the envelope. "Seemed real stressed about it getting sent off to a sister of hers."

"Yes, Cara Mortisson." The blond doctor nodded. "She's the one who got custody of her daughters. I bet this letter's for them. Go ahead and send it. I need to speak with Cameron."

The guard nodded and walked away, while the doctor smiled and walked steadily up to Miss Hastings' door. "Hello, Cameron. How are you feeling today?"

"Did that nice man get my letter?" Cameron asked, her long brown hair falling into her face. "I want to send it to my sister, so my girls can read it."

"He did." The doctor smiled. "We'll send it off with the mail this afternoon. Will that be okay?"

"Yes! Yes, that would be wonderful!" Cameron nodded vigorously. "I want my girls to visit me. Especially Kristen. I haven't seen her in so long…"

"I'll make sure they get that letter." The lady smiled. "I think it would be nice if they came to visit you."

"I miss my girls so much." Cameron smiled whistfully. "They were just babies when they were taken from me."

"I'm sure they would love to see you." The doctor nodded. "I'm sorry to cut our visit short, but I need to see Mr. Mundus two corridors over. Have a nice day, Cameron."

"I will." Cameron grinned wildly. "At last, my babies are coming home…"

XXXXX

On Saturday, Shadowatch gathered in the rec room to watch Digimon when Zartan strode in.

"Kristen, someone's on the phone for you." He said.

"Tell whoever it is that it can wait five minutes." The onyx haired girl replied, not taking her eyes off the tv.

"It's your sister, Kim." Zartan clarified. "She had to get the number from Zarana after she tried our base."

"Kim?" Kristen perked up. "Hang on, guys, I'll be right back."

The gray-skinned girl trotted out of the room and to the phone inside the surveillance room (it was closest). "Hello?"

"Kris!" Her sister exclaimed from the other line. "Oh my word, I am so glad I finally found you."

"Yeah, you found me." Kristen said warily. "Where's the fire?"

"Cara got a letter." Kim said. "From our mother."

Kristen froze in shock. For twelve years, she'd thought her mother gone for good. But now… a letter? "What did it say?" she asked.

"She wants us to visit her." Kim answered. Kristen's heart nearly started to beat again.

"What? Where is she?" Kristen asked. She could hear her sister sigh on the other end of the phone.

"The Dallas county mental hospital." Kim replied. It was all Kristen could do to keep from screaming aloud.

"I'll think about it, okay?" The younger girl said uncertainly. "I'll call you back when I've made my mind up."

"Okay." Kim said. "Just let me know. Mom said she really wanted to see you."

"Fine." Kris said. "Bye."

"Bye." Kim replied with a click. Only after she hang up the phone did Kristen allow herself to fall apart.

1) Ten points to anyone who guesses the song! Extra points for guessing the author too!