Disclaimer: Dollhouse belongs to the wonderful Joss Whedon, beautiful Eliza Dushku, and FOX. I don't own them and I do not profit from anything. I just like to play with the pretty Dolls.

As Echo was led out of Topher's room and down the stairs, Claire Saunders turned slightly towards her, "Echo," she said softly, "You shouldn't run off like that."

The brunette Doll watched as her feet slowly descended the stairs, sad that she made the kind doctor worry.

"I'm sorry."

Claire glanced up, "It's alright, Echo," She replied with slight relief. "Just don't do it again."

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Echo suddenly looked up to the doctor, features lighting up now as a new thought came to her. "I'm going to have a new friend living with me."

Amused as to how a person can change a mood so quickly, Claire smiled back. "That's wonderful." She replied.

Echo bounced lightly on her feet now as she followed the scarred doctor to the massage area. "Her name is Sierra."

"That's a pretty name." Claire lightly commented.

"She's pretty." responded the Doll.

The Doctor frowned slightly at first at that statement, but quickly shook it away. She shouldn't be worried about such a statement, it was innocent after all. When Claire noticed that Echo was no longer skipping by her side as they reached the massage area, she turned around to find that Echo was now standing still, her features fallen as her eyes held a distant look.

"Echo," She gently called out as she walked back to the pretty Doll.

"She hurts…" said Echo softly, eyes still glazed over.

"Who?"

Echo then looked back at the Doctor, meeting her gaze as she slowly raised her right hand, pointing to the room which had the bright surging lights. The room she found Sierra in.

Claire then forced a tight smile as she reached out to Echo's right hand, holding it as she brought the Doll to one of the massage beds, sitting her down on it immediately, "I'm sure she'll be fine." She assured hollowly, watching the Doll hold the same expression which the doctor couldn't figure out. Echo's features may appear blank, but Claire could faintly see something else hidden behind those hazel-brown eyes. Claire then quickly distracted Echo with a new subject as a masseuse came up to them.

"Well, I'll leave you for your relaxing massage." She said as she turned to walk away, hoping that by doing so, Echo's attention would now be diverted to the masseuse.

A familiar gently grip then gently reached out to her, and Claire had to look back at Echo.

"I don't want her to get hurt." said Echo.

"That's because she's your friend."

Hearing that, Echo smiled at the kind doctor.

With a glance at the masseuse, Dr. Claire Saunders left them.

As Echo lied down on her stomach, she kept her eyes trained on the Doctor, who had a final glance back at Echo before going into her room.

"Friends help each other out." Stated Echo evenly.

-------------

New Doll, Sierra, watched as this sandy haired man walked over to a table to pick up a clipboard.

"Did I fall asleep?" she asked.

"Only for a little while." He answered turning back to her smiling.

Sierra glanced away.

She did? She couldn't remember when. She then felt embarrassed as she felt the man's gaze still on her.

She looked back at him, giving a shy smile.

"You can leave now if you like." He continued as he strolled over to a door in a corner and opened it, showing her the exit where a man dressed in a light top and grey slacks stood waiting.

The sandy haired man then handed the clipboard to the new man as Sierra got up from the chair.

As she was about to leave, he then reminded her, "Don't forget to come back here for your treatment!"

Sierra turned to smile at him, "Alright."

The door then closed and Sierra was looking back at this new man who was smiling back at her. She felt her mouth mirroring his actions.

"Good day." She greeted.

He responded with the same smile.

Her gaze then focuses behind him to a beautiful atrium below. She watched as a few people assembled over in the middle, stretching and moving along with the Yoga instructor.

The new man then steps in her line of sight, catching her attention with his blue eyes and open smile once more.

"Come with me." He said.

With a small nod of her head, she follows him downstairs. As she did so, her gaze turns back to the wide atrium, trying to find a familiar brown gaze she saw in a dream.

He then guided her to a new room where she saw a young brown haired man getting a massage on one of the various massage beds.

She felt calm and relaxed as he told her to sit on one of the beds before going into the adjoining room with the clipboard in his hands.

This place is nice.

He then quickly came back empty handed. "Dr. Saunders will be with you shortly, wait here." He said before leaving her.

Sierra then turned her head to the right and watched as two more men dressed in light clothing set up a treadmill in the exercise area next door. She then frowned slightly as a young brunette woman passed by, escorted by the same man who was with her minutes ago. Sierra then slid off the bed and contemplated if she should go after the brunette, but her feet were already slowly making the decision for her.

"Sierra." greeted a voice behind her, grabbing her attention.

Turning to face the person, Sierra was now looking at a pretty dark haired woman dressed in a white cotton coat.

Sierra returned to the bed, "Hello."

As she observed this woman more, she gave a small frown as she noticed various scars across the woman's face.

Who would hurt her like that?

She didn't dare ask out loud.

Sierra's smile returned once more, her previous thought quickly forgotten as she asked, "Are you the doctor?"

The woman smiled as she began examining Sierra. "Yes I am." She answered, "And I will be inspecting you before we begin your training."

"What will I be doing?"

Gently stretching the muscles on Sierra's right leg, Dr. Saunders answered, "First you will have to run on that treadmill over there." Claire then pointed the same equipment Sierra saw moments ago. The blonde Doll smiled as she looked back at the prepared treadmill.

She liked running.

-------------

After going through various physical activities from running, cycling, swimming and other exercises that included physical endurance, Sierra was told that she could go and take a shower before going to bed. Heading into the bathroom, Sierra then placed her towel on the towel stand before stepping under the showerhead. The warm water gushed out immediately, soothing her body. As she cleaned herself, a man greeted her as he stepped under the showerhead beside her.

"Hello." He said.

Rinsing her hair, she turned towards him. Casting her eyes on his dark hair and strong features, she smiled softly.

"Hello." She replied before going back to washing herself.

She felt him watch her as she lathered herself in a light layer of soap. Thinking that he too needed the bar of soap, she handed it to him. He quickly broke his gaze as he accepted it and began lathering himself.

"I saw you run really fast on the treadmill today." He commented.

And she saw him beside her in her Yoga class.

"I try to be my best." She replied easily as she bent over to wash off the remaining soap off her legs. Sierra then straightened up and stepped away from the running water, "But I'm tired now."

"Yes, you should rest." He said softly.

Sierra smiled at him as she picked up her red towel and wrapped it around herself, "You must rest too." She said.

He nodded and she bid him good night before going off to the cupboard to find a new set of night clothes.

----

When a group of Dolls entered the bedroom and Sierra was the last to file in, she frowned slightly as she saw an empty bed beside hers. She then looked back but saw that no other person came in behind her.

Why is there an empty bed?

Sierra still hasn't seen a familiar set of hazel brown eyes today…

"Please get into your bed." Said a woman also dressed in light top.

Sierra quietly did as she was told.

----

As Sierra woke up the next day and after taking her morning shower, she decided to go for swim around the pool before going to do some drawing.

After doing 20 laps in the pool, she dried herself off and headed to the beautiful atrium where she saw four people stretching on their yoga mats. Entranced by their fluid movements, she paused in her steps and tilted her head slightly, watching them.

She then felt a tap on her shoulder.

Turning around she met a man with fair blonde hair with a fine nose structure and thin lips. He was dressed in a dark suit.

She smiled at him, "Good day."

He didn't smile back. "It's time your treatment." He said.

----

As soon as Michelle woke up, she was briefed with an assignment to secure a kidnap and ransom situation; Get in, eliminate the armed kidnappers, rescue the little girl, recover the money and do it quietly. She then headed downstairs to the helicopter while her superior equipped her with multiple firearms.

Before she got in the aircraft, a beautiful brunette with thin framed glasses quickly passed by her and approached the helicopter. Behind her mask, Michelle felt a smirk on her lips as she watched the brunette get in.

This should get interst –

Michelle immediately shook her head.

Focus on the job!

While in the air, she could hear the radio contact feeding them with information about one of the men she was sent out to kill as she prepared her shotgun. She then overheard the brunette, Ms. Penn, talking with the security contractor.

"With respect," he began, "the last time you went head to head with these people, you folded. My man's fully trained –"

Ms. Penn immediately cut him off, "Your man gives me 10 minutes or Devina will die!"

Another involuntary smirk graced Michelle's lips for a brief second.

When they landed a good distance away from the targeted house, Ms. Penn immediately headed for the house, without looking back. Michelle looked on as she took off her mask, catching the beautiful brunette taking a breather from her inhaler.

Security contractor, Mr. Dominic then stepped up to her.

"What are you doing?" he asked evenly.

She glanced at him, "I'm giving her 10 minutes." She answered.

Mr. Dominic then bit back a snappy retort.

Before he could further continue, his cell phone rang and he answered it, glancing at her.

Michelle raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. She stepped away from him to strap herself with her weapons. Four minutes later, she heard distant gunshots coming from the old abandoned house. Quickly picking up her rifle with her left hand, she started to head for the house.

Mr. Dominic then called out to her, stopping her in her tracks momentarily.

"Secure the area!" he ordered, "I'll call for backup!"

She ran towards the house before Dominic could finish giving the order, she didn't need to be told twice anyway.

Michelle then didn't hesitate as she stepped up to the front porch, blasting the front door with her rifle and stepping through the cloud of smoke.

Eyes swiftly scanning the area, she caught a glimpse of Ms. Penn and the girl lying on the floor next to the body of a dead man. She then sensed a movement on her far right and fired a shot in that direction, satisfied when she heard a muffled grunt and a body hitting the floor. A quick shift then told her that the last man was hiding behind the wall ahead of her, and she raised her rifle and covered the wall with three shots. The man hiding behind it fell down immediately, revealing two gunshot wounds to his back.

Her job was done.

"I told you to wait." said a soft voice.

Michelle turned to the owner, she then curtly explained as she secured the guns back in their holsters, "There were shots. We made a call."

The Special Forces Agent then finally got a good look at the beautiful brunette and her hazel brown eyes drew her in. Michelle couldn't help but feel some sort of familiarity in them…

"We were coming out." stated Ms. Penn.

'I could've hurt her.' said a soft quiet voice in her head, 'Is she injured?'

Michelle then heard the same question come out of her mouth.

Now why would she be concerned about this woman she hardly even knew? Her priority was not of this woman right now.

"Then get over it." Michelle stated dryly as she looked away from those brown eyes.

Armed men then stormed up the porch, and she spoke to them, "The money's here, I want it bagged and swiped in our presence in three minutes."

As the men handled the money, Michelle's quick eyes caught sight of Eleanor picking the girl up in her arms and carrying her out. She slowly followed them out and Michelle watched as the woman comforted the small girl.

How do I know you…?

One of the men then called for her attention inside.

It doesn't matter.

----------

When both of the Actives returned to the Dollhouse and had their minds wiped, neither remembered anything about each other previously. But instinct did tell them one thing about each other.

I would always take care of her.

Before Sierra went to sleep that night, she felt comforted by the fact that the bed beside hers is no longer empty.

Thank you for reading, hope you will be reviewing! ;)

--FlexibleFish--