Zoe is back, but she is different. Have her relationships with the team changed forever ? A little sisterly advice.

Aneisha just smiled sadly back at her. She had a feeling that things weren't going to get any better, any time soon.

After everyone had gone home, Aneisha wrote a text to Frank. "Frank, things not good with Dan. He's very upset. Can you talk to Zoe pls ?" she texted him, pressing the Send button.

Tom was also texting Frank. "Frank, Dan really really upset. I guess he thinks Zoe doesn't want to know him any more. She almost ignored him," he typed, before sending the message with a sigh.

Keri stared at her phone, wondering what to say. "Frank, what's up with that girl ? I thought her and Dan were tight. She totally blanked him. He's freaked. Pls fix ? xxx Keri," she typed, then after some thought, removed one of the kisses. This was Frank after all. Satisfied, she hit Send. Keri sighed. It wasn't like she was really close to Dan. She guessed she had moved from 'annoying Keri' to 'great spy Keri' in Dan's estimation, which was an improvement. She found him a bit straight-laced and over serious about all the spy business, but basically his heart was in the right place. She didn't like to see him so upset. Everyone was always telling her how nice Zoe had been. She'd struck her more as self-centred. Keri shrugged. Hopefully things would improve tomorrow.

xxxxxoooooooxxxxxx

Dan found himself standing in the hall of his house without any clear memory of how he had got there. He had his school bag with him. He guessed someone must have got him home. It was probably Tom. Tom lived the closest. Why was he in this state ? Oh yeah, Zoe. She was back. Dan stood there wondering what to do. After a minute his little sister came out of the sitting room and stared at him.

"Danny, what are you doing there ?" asked Sam, his sister.

"Urm. I guess, just thinking," he said.

Sam stared at him, crinkling up her nose. "You don't look right," she said finally.

"Thanks," said Dan. Normally he would have managed a hint of irony, but this time his tone was flat and expressionless.

The corner of Sam's mouth twisted thoughtfully and she came and took his arm. "I think you'd better tell me about it," she said.

"No, but I mean, you're only .." muttered Dan, following her helplessly into the sitting room.

"Yeah, 12, I know. You tell me often enough. Now, sit down and tell me what's happened," instructed Sam, pushing him down on to the sofa before sitting beside him and staring into his face in concentration.

Dan looked at his sister in confusion. The intensity of her stare was making him nervous. What was it with girls ? Could they read your mind or something ?

"So ?" prompted Sam patiently.

"Well, I might have mentioned Zoe," said Dan, tentatively.

"Do you mean, the gorgeous, petite, red-headed, graceful, awesome Zoe ? The Zoe who disappeared without saying goodbye, you miss her so much Zoe ? Have I got the right Zoe ?" asked Sam.

"Erm, yup that's her," admitted Dan. Had he really gone on about her that much ? Jeez what a saddo ! "Well, the thing is, she turned up today," he said.

"Yay ! Zoe who disappeared came back. So what's the problem ?" asked Sam.

"The problem ? Well, I was standing there thinking, Wow it's Zoe. She's still gorgeous. She's even more beautiful than I remember. I can't wait to kiss her and, you know, stuff," said Dan vaguely.

"Mm hm, I get the picture," said Sam solemnly. Dan stared into space for a second. "And what did Zoe do ?" asked Sam.

"Well, she hugged everyone else, said 'Hi Dan' and took my jelly," said Dan.

"And that was it ?" asked Sam.

"Yep, pretty much," said Dan.

"So no running into each others' arms, swinging her round and round, kissing in the moonlight, big orchestral moment type of thing, I missed you so much stuff ?" asked Sam.

"Nope, none of that," agreed Dan.

"You were expecting that ?" asked Sam.

"I guess so," agreed Dan.

"I guess she was thinking different then," said Sam. Dan didn't reply. "Dan, did you fall in love with Zoe before she left or after she left," asked Sam.

This confused Dan a bit. "Well, before, obviously," he said.

"Did you tell her ?" asked Sam.

"Nooooo," said Dan slowly.

"Well, maybe she doesn't know you fancy her," suggested Sam. "Maybe she thinks she had a 'went away for a bit, just come back' kind of experience." Sam looked at him sympathetically. "Dan, maybe this whole love thing grew in you while she was away, but it didn't grow in her the say way. It doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't like you. It probably means you just need to give it a little bit of time," she said gently.

Dan looked at his sister through narrowed eyes. "You know, for a 12 year old kid, you're pretty clever," he said.

"Well, it doesn't take much to be cleverer than you !" said Sam, rolling her eyes. This earned her a cushion in the face. "Hey !" she said, laughing.

Dan felt the tension rushing out of his shoulders and the tightness in his stomach relaxed for the first time since lunch break. "Thanks Sis," he said quietly, slumping back on the sofa.

"Welcome," said Sam, smiling at him fondly. She leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. "I'm always here," she said lightly.

"And don't I know it !" laughed Dan. This got him a cushion in the face. Giggling, the two began wrestling on the sofa. Since Dan was considerably bigger and stronger than his little sister, it would have been an uneven fight if he had even attempted to use his full strength. He had always been older, bigger and stronger than Sam, but he had never used it against her. Even in the midst of their worst squabbles, he had always known that she would be there for him, and she had known that he would always be there for her. It was a brother sister kind of thing.

"I hope you two aren't fighting," called their mother from the kitchen.

"No Mum !" called the two together, hurriedly replacing the sofa cushions back in position and stifling their giggles.

"I'm glad to hear it. Dinner in ten minutes," called their mother.